Skype has 13% of calls. It has lots of connections to the various different telephone networks all around the world. MS bought the largest telecommunications

Skype has 13% of calls. It has lots of connections to the various different telephone networks all around the world. MS bought the largest telecommunications company. MS wants into telecommunications in a big way. Skype has a product that corporate users want - voip/conference calls/video conferencing. MS has access to that market, which Skype did not really have. Skype has a massive user base(663 million registered users as of 2010). These users also have contact lists - business, friends, and family. Think of these social connections in a user base larger than facebook. MS wants more into social. Skype has a massive amount of peoples credit cards on file, and agreements with those people. Skype has a huge botnet(110 million+ active nodes). Many of the computers running Skype process data, and use their internet pipe for Skype. Remember Skype is a P2P network. The Skype brand is quite strong, and is something people like. MS needs to buy into brands like Skype, which people love - since many people hate the MS brand. Then there is the raw talent they are buying. These are some seriously good hackers, and business people. I think MS got Skype for a great price.