http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/technology/tech-news/microsoft-snaps-up-skype-to-keep-rivals-at-bay/article2016439/

Microsoft has finally secured its acquisition of the web-based, video and audio calling giant Skype. But it wasn’t cheap. Even though Microsoft purchased the company for 8.5 billion, almost three times its value less than two years ago, it ensures that Google and Facebook did not. Even though they paid a hefty price, Microsoft feels that they are acquiring a company with services that are core to their mission and technological direction. They will now begin the difficult task of incorporating Skype’s services into all of their

http://www.brothersoft.com/skype-51174.html

products. Hopefully the use of Skype’s technology will increase the appeal for Window’s powered smart phones, which have almost no market presence. The benefit of Skype is that their audio and video calling service can be used with almost any type of platform or device. This will now decrease the gap between companies like Google and Apple, who have successfully created technology that is dominating the smart phone and tablet industries. Microsoft finally has a way of differentiating themselves from the competition. If they can successfully integrate this technology into their products it could be exactly what they need to gain the competitive advantage they have been lacking for the last decade.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/globe-investor/investment-ideas/fabrice-taylor/rim-like-motorola-needs-a-giant-partner/article2131662/

With the Apple acquisition of Motorola, it looks like Microsoft could possibly follow suit by purchasing a much smaller company for it’s assets as well. Which company could that be? None other than Research in Motion, who have seen their stock prices drop significantly from a lack of investor confidence and shift in consumer preferences towards Apple products.

Currently Microsoft has almost no presence in the tablet or smartphone market. RIM has a loyal consumer base of more than 60 million users. They also have tablet technology which could provide Microsoft a huge opportunity as the tides turn away from laptops and to tablets and smart phones. It is imperative that Microsoft somehow makes a move into these two very important markets. Windows and Office are their main profit earners and as tablet purchases begin to chip away from laptop sales, Microsoft’s value will begin to dwindle if they do not enter the market. For Microsoft this is the perfect opportunity to begin to steal market share back from Apple, who over the last decade has completely

http://www.thetelecomblog.com/2011/05/04/rim-strikes-bing-agreement-with-microsoft/

overshadowed them in innovation. In the enterprise world where Microsoft is very strong, a business friendly tablet coupled with Windows software could be what Microsoft needs to climb back in the innovation race with Apple.