10 Reasons Why

The Federal Trade Commission recently approved Microsoft's $8.5 billion bid for Skype, putting the software giant one step closer to taking everything into account closing the deal for the VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) provider. As long as the U.S. Department of Justice approves the deal, Skype will become the Microsoft Skype Division and be led by its current CEO, Tony Bates.

One of the first assurances Microsoft made following its announcement that it would acquire Skype was that the VOIP service would be integrated into Windows Phone 7. Microsoft's mobile platform has not caught on with consumers, and iOS and Android have been performing quite then. With deep Skype integration, current Windows Phone 7 owners will benefit and Microsoft itself might be able to attract more users to its platform.

The best in the business right now

Apple's FaceTime video-chatting service is arguably the best in the business right now. Users on iOS-based devices and Macs can engage in video chats at no charge. So far, Microsoft hasn't been able to respond. However with Skype's help it will, potentially making the software giant's offering much better than Apple's. With Skype, Microsoft can offer a video-chatting feature that works across platforms, including Windows PCs, Windows Phone 7 devices, Macs and Kinect, among others. Skype's video chatting doesn't have the limitations that FaceTime does, and as long as Microsoft keeps that in place, everyone will benefit.