MICROSOFT

The Microsoft Corp. announced the closing of its $8.5 billion deal to acquire Skype Global, on Thursday. The Redmond, Wash.-based company originally disclosed its intention to do so on May 10.

With the $8.5 billion acquisition of Skype having been confirmed, it remains to be seen if Microsoft Corp., with access to Skype's desktop and mobile apps, can use the technology to upgrade its line of existing services.

Microsoft Corp. began the process of acquiring the Internet's leading video chat client, Skype, for $8.5 billion, earlier this year. On May, 10, a deal acceptable to all parties was worked out and, according to a report, the two companies have been given permission to proceed, by both the U.S. Federal Trade Commission and the European Union.

With one-third of the Dow components and crowd favorite Apple reporting results next week, U.S. stocks are setting the stage for another week of gains.

What will Google buy with all that cash? Here are some suggestions.

Internet entertainment site Hulu is no longer for sale, keeping it for now under the umbrellas of media giants Walt Disney, News Corp. and Comcast UniversalNBC.

Despite Microsoft's initial announcement in May of acquiring Skype for $8.5 billion, the deal was finally sealed on Friday after both companies received approval from the European Commission.

Microsoft has finalized the $8.5 billion acquisition of VoIP service Skype, initially announced in May 2011.

Five months after Microsoft said it would acquire Skype for $8.5 billion, the deal was approved and the transaction closed. Is Microsoft now ready to battle Google, whose proposed $12.5 billion takeover of Motorola Mobility is expected to close next quarter?

That bar of search possibility from Google that world has come to know and use as an everyday part of life is getting a challenge from another little-known search engine which aims to take on the global leader.

Add some more private equity bigfeet to the cluster that may be looking to acquire Yahoo: Kohlberg Kravis Roberts and Blackstone Group.

Apple's iOS 5 update offered over 200 new features, but Apple felt that wasn't enough, so the company wrote six new apps of its very own. The new offerings aim to make users more efficient.

Microsoft buys developer behind 'Splosion Man' and 'The Gunstringer.'

Steve Yegge, a senior engineer at Google, accidentally and publicly posted a critical analysis about his company's understanding of platforms, calling Google Plus a complete failure. Here are five reasons we agree.

Continuing his rollout of initiatives designed to expand broadband access nationwide, FCC chairman Julius Genachowski Wednesday unveiled the Connect to Compete venture at the Pew Charitable Trusts in Washington D.C.

Jobs let Time Editor Walter Isaacson write a biography of him and it looks like Hollywood is ready to commit before the book even comes out.

Box.net raised $81 million in funding on Monday. The cloud computing company is the darling of Silicon Valley, but can it compete with the likes of Amazon or Microsoft?

Business-software company Box has won $81 million in funding to expand its business, illustrating investors' continued appreciation for start-up companies that tap into the cloud.

The legendary tech genius Steve Jobs passed away on Oct. 5, leaving a great void in the world. It is Jobs who changed the way we think of the digital world, who changed the concept of mobile phone and tablet, and who revolutionized the technology industry. Here's a quick look at the most popular quotes by Steve Jobs. Perhaps, people might get inspired by the quotes and understand why Jobs and his Apple succeeded so well.

Owners of nearly 12 percent of BlackBerry developer Research in Motion are demanding a shakeup or sale, Toronto activist investor Victor Alboini tells IBTimes.

Congress should not endorse another big tax break for overseas corporate profits because the last one in 2004-2005 was a costly failure, said U.S. congressional investigators in a report released on Monday.