16:16 ET<\/span><\/span><\/p>\nMicrosoft’s founder, Bill Gates, has said he advocated the company’s takeover of Skype, and urged other board members to support the move.<\/p>\n
Last week Microsoft agreed to pay $8.5bn (\u00a35.2bn) for the loss-making internet phone service.<\/p>\n
“I was a strong proponent at the board level for the deal being done,” Mr Gates, Microsoft’s chairman told the BBC’s Hardtalk programme.<\/p>\n
The multi-billion dollar deal is Microsoft’s largest ever acquisition.<\/p>\n
“I think it’s a great, great deal for Skype. I think it’s a great deal for Microsoft,” he added.<\/p>\n
Skype enables its users to contact each other over the internet for free, while charging for calls made to both traditional landline phones and mobiles.<\/p>\n
The Luxembourg-based company, which has 663 million users worldwide has however struggled to make a profit.<\/p>\n
But in the interview with the BBC’s Stephen Sackur, Mr Gates said the decision to buy Skype was strategic.<\/p>\n
“The idea of video conferencing is going to get so much better than it is today. Skype actually does get a fair bit of revenue,” said Mr Gates.<\/p>\n
“It’ll be fascinating to see how the brilliant ideas out of Microsoft research, coming together with Skype, what they can make of that.”<\/p>\n
You can see the full interview on BBC News Channel at 04:30 on Wednesday 18 May 2011 and 00:30 on Thursday May 2011.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/p>\n
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