Microsoft acquires Skype
Microsoft and Skype confirmed today an agreement under which Microsoft will acquire Skype for $8.5 billion in cash from an investor group which includes the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board. led by Silver Lake.
Upon approval by the boards both companies, Skype will become a new division of Microsoft. Tony Bates, the current Skype CEO, will run the division and will report directly to Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer
MTS TV set to upgrade to Mediaroom 2.0
In an email sent to its customers, MTS has announced it will update the Microsoft Mediaroom software that drives its MTS Ultimate Internet Protocol Television (IPTV) service, to Version 2.0 sometime in April.
Firefox 4.0 usage quickly outpacing IE 9.0
To significant fanfare, the world’s two most popular web browsers were updated in March.
Version nine of Microsoft’s Internet Explorer, the world’s most popular web browser, was released on March 14th while Mozilla, makers of the world’s second most popular web browser, released Firefox version 4.0 on March 22nd
Microsoft has no plans for new Zune devices
A report from Bloomberg today says Microsoft will stop introducing new models of its Zune portable media player due to poor demand.
Internet Explorer 9 RC now available for download
Microsoft today announced the RC version of Internet Explorer 9 web browser for Windows Vista and Windows 7 is now available for download.
The Release Candidate (RC) is an update to the beta version which was released last September and is the last milestone before the production release of the browser.
Internet Explorer usage continues to fall
Microsoft’s Internet Explorer (IE) remained the most popular web browser in the world in September according to recent figures published by NetMarketshare.
Total worldwide usage for Internet Explorer in September 2010 was 59.65%, which on the surface seems impressive until you realize that IE’s share just over two years ago was 75% and almost 95% at its peak.
Microsoft rumoured to announce Slate plans next week
IN front of an audience at the London School of Economics this week, Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer said the company would be showing off new Windows tablet computers by Christmas.
Calling the potential iPad competitor “slates,” Balmer did not specify when they would be announced, however, Neowin is reporting that Microsoft will unveil its Slates plan at a press conference on October 11th.
