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NEW YORK (Reuters) – Microsoft Corp is near to purchase web video conferencing assist Skype Technologies for $8.5 1000000000 including debt, a maker old with the situation said, in a deal which would rank as the large for the code company.

A deal is due to be announced as early as weekday morning, the maker said. The maker declined to be named because the talks are not public.

Microsoft and Skype declined comment.

Skype, which had suspended plans for an initial open offering, had fresh been hunting at another options.

Facebook and Google Inc were separately considering a tie-up with Skype, digit sources with candid noesis of the discussions previously told Reuters. Google had held early talks for a render venture with Skype, the ordinal maker said.

A maker said at the instance much a deal could continuance Skype at $3 1000000000 to $4 1000000000 -- less than the continuance put on it by Microsoft's interest.

Skype's planned commercialism had been due to improve most $1 billion, several another sources said at the time.

Skype was formed in 2003. Ebay Inc bought it in 2005 for $3.1 billion.

In 2009, eBay oversubscribed a majority stake in Skype to an investor assemble that included Silver Lake, the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board and Andreessen pianist for $1.9 1000000000 in cash and a $125 meg note. EBay preserved most a third of the company.

Last year, Skype had most 124 meg adjoining users every period by the modify of June. But 8.1 meg were paying customers, using Skype to attain calls to traditional phones at discounted rates.

A deal would be Microsoft's large acquisition if it goes ahead, prodigious the $6 1000000000 it paid for online ad agency aQuantive.

Goldman Sachs and JPMorgan are advising Skype, the maker said. Microsoft is not using advisers, the maker said.

Earlier, the Wall Street Journal reportable programme of the possibleness deal.

(Additional news and composition by Megan Davies; Additional news by Sakthi Prasad in Bangalore; Editing by Anshuman Daga)

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