Did Microsoft Buy Skype May 2026

eBay bought Skype in 2005 for $2.6 billion, hoping to let buyers and sellers talk. The integration failed, and eBay later sold a majority stake to a group of investors led by Silver Lake in 2009. 2. The $8.5 Billion Bet (2011)

Microsoft wanted to integrate Skype into its entire ecosystem, including Windows, Xbox, and Outlook, to compete with Apple’s FaceTime.

Under CEO Steve Ballmer, Microsoft outbid tech giants like Facebook and Google to secure Skype.

On May 10, 2011, Microsoft announced it would acquire Skype for $8.5 billion in cash—a massive deal that marked Microsoft's biggest acquisition at the time.

The acquisition was more than just a purchase; it was a pivot that reshaped global communication. 5 billion deal, and the eventual sunset of the app that once defined video calling. 1. The Pre-Microsoft Era: A Rocky Start