Microsoft aims to put Skype at your fingertips - The Boston Globe

I have a hunch the Google Voice team is pretty psyched about this deal, relative to other scenarios such as Facebook or Cisco acquiring Skype

[Zeus Kerravala, senior vice president of research at Yankee Group] said forcing current Skype users to pay is a nonstarter, especially since companies like Google Inc. and Yahoo Inc. offer free calling services. “If Microsoft disrupts this and tries to charge for it,’’ he said, “people won’t pay for it anymore.’’

Skype’s chief executive, Tony Bates, who will head the new Skype division at Microsoft, said the company will generate cash through on-screen advertisements.

Microsoft aims to put Skype at your fingertips - The Boston Globe