Today Microsoft announced the finalization of the Skype purchase. Skype is now officially a division of Microsoft. The $8.5 billion takeover was announced just over five months ago and as part of the purchase, Skype will be its own division within Microsoft and former Skype CEO Tony Bates will be the head of that division. Most of Skype’s employees from around the world will continue in their current positions.

The acquisition will help Microsoft capture the brand recognition and users currently under Skype. It will also allow Microsoft to integrate the Skype experience into their products and services, so you are likely to see native integration of Skype into Xbox, Windows and Windows Phone.

The future is bright for Microsoft as long as they can tie all of these products and services together into something that works for consumers.