If the deal goes ahead, it’ll be Microsoft’s biggest ever acquisition.  A more skeptical write-up in the Guardian has analysts apparently

“shocked” at what they think is a “substantial overpayment for the company”, but it’s not surprising to hear Microsoft may be enthusiastic about committing to Skype.

As Google Apps and a throng of popular cloud computing productivity services grow their presence and market share Microsoft is wise to be looking for a solid technology with which to entrench:  Skype is the dominant player in its space, with nearly as many registered users as Facebook.

Microsoft’s “I’m a PC” advertising launched three years ago; two years later PC sales were overtaken by tablets. So it makes sense if Microsoft is buying a brand that is liked, and which can play on tablets, and in the same new space as Dropbox, Evernote, Delicious, Instapaper and similar services.

Skype may be converting users to paying customers at only 6%, but as mobile develops, and communications technology infrastructure along with it, IP telephony doesn’t appear to be getting less important.  Can you imagine Skype integrated in MS Outlook?  With Office and Windows at their disposal, Microsoft could be setting itself open to the beautiful future of a premium “brand plus technology” execution.