On Tuesday Microsoft announced details of a $8.5 billion acquisition of online communications company Skype.

The idea is that Microsoft can integrate Skype's voice, video and messaging tools with Office e-mail and its mobile operating system for smartphones and other devices.

What the deal does bring to Microsoft is an established base of users and a growing appeal to attract more customers. Monthly Skype users increased 38 percent last year to 145 million, with the number of paying customers up 19 percent.

But at the same time, the company also loss made a net loss of $7 million last year on revenue of $860 million.

Here are photos from the event where that landmark annoucement was made.

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