BBC Learning English Words in the News 11th May 2011 Microsoft is buying Skype

Words in the News British Broadcasting Corporation 2011 Page 1 of 2

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Microsoft has confirmed it will buy the internet phone service Skype. The $8.5 billion deal

will connect Microsoft with the 663 million people around the world who use Skype. It is the

most money Microsoft has spent to buy another company. Rory Cellan-Jones reports:

One is the giant business, whose software powers more than 90% of the world's computers.

The other is the firm which has revolutionised the way many communicate. Now Skype is

being swallowed up by Microsoft.

It's just eight years since Skype started helping people to make calls over the internet for

nothing, and this is the third time it's been bought and sold.

Microsoft has been struggling to prove it can compete with the likes of Google and Apple.

Now as it tries to make an impact on the mobile-phone world, it wants Skype to help it

become a bigger force.

Skype is now used by 170 million people around the world, not just on their computers, but

on the move - on their mobile phones and even on their tablet devices.

Microsoft wants to tap in to this connected community, but it's paying a huge price for a

business that isn't even profitable.

Rory Cellan-Jones, BBC News

Words in the News British Broadcasting Corporation 2011 Page 2 of 2

bbclearningenglish.com

Vocabulary and definitions

powers here, runs, or allows the computer to operate effectively

revolutionised introduced very big changes or new ideas to

swallowed up here, bought and taken over by a larger company

over the internet using a computer connected to the internet

the likes of here, companies such as

to make an impact on to be successful and have a strong effect on

a bigger force here, a larger organisation with more influence

on the move while travelling

to tap in to to become involved in or to make use of

connected community group of people who are linked or in contact with each

other

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