News speculating of Microsoft acquiring Skype, floating around the rumor mill last night, has been materialized. Microsoft released a press release today indicating they will acquire Skype for $8.5 Billion, in cash, from Silver Lake Investor’s group.

Through information gathered from the press release, Microsoft is planning on integrating Skype into, almost, all of their platforms and devices including the Xbox 360, Kinect, Windows Phone, and various Windows platforms. Fortunately, for current Skype users, Steve Balmer has expressed that Microsoft will continue ”to invest in and support Skype clients on non-Microsoft platforms.”

Skype has had new owners a few times over the course of its 7 year existence. Founded in 2003, it was acquired by eBay in 2005 for roughly $2.5 Billion, then sold off to Silver Lake in 2009 for a bargain price of $2.75 Billion. The growth in Skype has been astronomical and continues to be big threat in the voice and video communications market. The direction that Microsoft will steer the young company will have a great impact on its future.

Via Microsoft