Having already won approval from the US Federal Trade Commission, the EU is reportedly ready to okay Microsoft's $8.5 billion acquisition of online telephone service Skype. "The decision to clear the
purchase without an in-depth, second-phase investigation will be a relief for Microsoft and will allow the deal to go through without delay," the Financial Times reports.
Moreover, FT
adds, Microsoft's victory highlights a turnaround in its long-strained relations with European competition authorities. Joaquín Almunia, the EU competition commissioner, is set to approve the
deal without any remedies, "in spite of complaints from would-be rivals over Microsoft 'bundling' the software with Windows," FT reports.
In June, the US Federal Trade Commission
sanctioned the acquisition on the grounds that there was sufficient competition from rival services, like Google Talk. Simply put, Microsoft believes that the addition of Skype with add to the value
of its existing devices and software platforms.
Read the whole story at Financial Times »