The Internet is abuzzwith reportsthat Microsoft is set to close a deal to acquireSkype, the popular VoIP company, for as much as $7 billion dollars, with a possible announcement coming early Tuesday morning despite suggestions the deal was in late-stage negotiations and had not yet been finalised.
Buying Skype, Microsoft would acquire its 650+ million users, its operating losses and thousands of staff across the world. The Redmond-based company would also inherit Skype’s office spaces, which are amongst some of the most beautiful and vibrant offices in the world.
We have embedded some below for your viewing pleasure, we are sure there are some Microsoft employees eying-up these spaces as we speak.
Stockholm, Sweden
Skype’s operations in Sweden run out of a completely restored massive historical building,Münchenbryggeriet, a landmark of the city’s skyline. Built in 1846 as a clothing factory, the building became Sweden’s largest brewery in 1857 and operated as a brewery until 1971. The office can hold up to 100 employees and plays host to colourful furnishings from all over Europe (via The Cool Hunter):
Calling all Scaleup founders! Join the Soonicorn Summit on November 28 in Amsterdam.
Meet with the leaders of Picnic, Miro, Carbon Equity and more during this exclusive event dedicated to Scaleup Founders!
London, England
Skype’s offices in London aren’t well known – in fact you wouldn’t even know where they were unless you had been given exact instructions. That said, the interior of Skype’s London offices were designed by office design firmMorgan Lovell, pushing the boundaries to design them something really different.
Tallinn, Estonia
We got the opportunity to visit Skype’s offices in Tallinn, Estonia a year ago, the largest Skype facility of them all. Home to a core development team of engineers and designers, the offices in Tallinn stay true to the design ethos of the company.
Palo Alto, United States
Dtailwrites:
Skype recently hired architecture and interior design firm Blitz to renovate their current 54,000 sq ft space in Palo Alto. Their primary goal was to create a world-class office that would differentiate themselves from their Bay Area competitors. Ultimately, they want to recruit the best talent in the field.
The new space reflects Skype’s spirit of innovation in a highly functional yet creative workplace designed to encourage interaction and spontaneity. Specific acoustic requirements were made in order to support the audio and video capabilities of their 250 employees. The project is seeking LEED Silver certification.
Clausen, Luxembourg
Skype’s Corporate HQ is based in Clausen, Luxembourg and features some incredible industrial designs with vibrant colour throughout. It was designed byWalker and Martin Architects, a company which also planned the first floor at Skype’s London offices and put together a ‘DNA’ design guide document for the other global offices – used in San Palo and Stockholm.
Skype has offices all over the world. As discussed above, most of its development team is based in Tallinn, Estonia. Product management, business development, marketing and communications work from London, with finance and legal teams enjoying the quiet life in Luxembourg.
Skype’s audio and video researchers work out of Stockholm, with the rest of its offices placed in Prague, San José, São Paulo, Hong Kong, Tokyo and Tartu.
Story byMatt Brian
Matt is the former News Editor for The Next Web. You can follow him on Twitter, subscribe to his updates on Facebook and catch up with him(show all)Matt is the former News Editor for The Next Web. You can follow him onTwitter, subscribe to his updates onFacebookand catch up with him onGoogle+.
Get the TNW newsletter
Get the most important tech news in your inbox each week.
