Microsoft reassures Apple

As it wrapped up its acquisition of Skype, Microsoft again assured users that it would continue to develop versions for platforms other than Windows.

Earlier today, Microsoft announced that it had closed the $8.5 billion deal for Skype, the Luxembourg-based Internet phone and chat giant. Microsoft and Skype unveiled the planned acquisition in May.

New business division within Microsoft

Skype will operate as a new business division within Microsoft, and Tony Bates, formerly the chief executive of Skype, will report directly to Microsoft's CEO, Steve Ballmer.

Skype offers versions of its software for Apple's Mac OS X and Linux on the desktop, and on Google's Android, Apple's iOS, RIM's BlackBerry and Nokia's Symbian mobile operating systems.

"This acquisition has the potential to lessen competition in the VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) space and could lead to less consumer choice and/or higher prices," said Messagenet's CEO, Marco Fiorentino, in an email last week. "We remain watchful of the Microsoft and Skype integration in light of EU telecom regulations and antitrust law."

Gregg Keizer covers Microsoft, security issues, Apple, Web browsers and general innovation breaking news for Computerworld. Follow Gregg on Twitter at @gkeizer , on Google+ or subscribe to Gregg's RSS feed . His e-mail address is gkeizer@computerworld.com .