As carriers de-emphasize what are becoming commoditized calling minutes in favor of pricier data bytes, Microsoft's strategic alliance with Nokia also gives it huge reach in the distribution of Skype-integrated handsets. It denies Skype to, say, Facebook and Google, both of which were reported just days ago to be interested in in partnering with, and possibly buying it.
Microsoft's purchase of Skype is arguably as much about defense as offense. Google recently struck a deal with Sprint, enabling Sprint customers to integrate their phone numbers with Google Voice. Meanwhile, Google acquired a competing service, Grand Central, for a reported $50 million in 2007, eventually launching it as Google Voice in 2009. But it hasn't exactly captialized on the social networking revolution and has faced carrier resistance in its efforts to create fully featured mobile clients. Skype is popular, especially among people who use its services to place international calls cheaply or for free.
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