Microsoft will be taking part in the ‘Safer Internet Day‘ this February 8th, 2011. The day’s goals are to: “promote safer and more responsible use of online technology and mobile phones, especially amongst children and young people across the world” Microsoft, purveyors of the world’s most popular operating systems and Internet browsers, has strong reasons to support days and events such as Safer Internet Day that can help the company move past its reputation as insecure....

Microsoft is set to close a deal to acquire Skype, the popular VoIP company, for as much as $7 billion dollars, according to theWall Street Journal. We could expect an announcement as soon as next Tuesday, although the deal is in late-stage negotiations and is not yet finalized. After much speculation about a possible Google or Facebook purchase of Skype last week, it may come as a surprise to some that Microsoft is winning the bid, although the software megacorporation has long been included in such rumors....

Microsoft has been on a literal sprint to get Internet Explorer 9 into the market, and with itsfinal launch date now in sight, the company is beginning to discuss life after release. Accordingto sources, the software giant intends on continuing to release developer previews of Internet Explorer technology even after Internet Explorer 9 launches. Microsoft has been using developer previews of pre-launch IE9 builds to show off upgrades, and to allow developers to interface with the product in the quickest possible fashion....

According to reports, Microsoft will unveil the much-anticipated Windows 8 tablet user interface at this year’s AllThingsDD9 conference. AllThingsDreported todaythat Microsoft’s Windows President Steven Sinofsky will be on stage at the event. Shortly thereafter,WinRumors postedthat according to “[a] source, familiar with Microsoft’s plans,” the company will show off its next-generation tablet UI during the conference. If true, this will be an important step for the Windows brand, and also for Microsoft as a company as its touch-enabled products have been historical flops....

We don’t cover Microsoft’s advertising practices often, but today is an exception as the company is preparing to roll out a massive new campaign across mediums, pushing its complete consumer line of products. Accordingto AdAge, the content of the advertisements will include the Xbox, Kinect, Office, Windows Phone, and Windows. Microsoft has been working to better integrate its product lines, especially tying Xbox into its other offerings, by bringing Xbox LIVE to Windows Phone, and eventually, Windows 8....