There is a growing rumor that Microsoft is in final stages of negotiations to acquire Skype. Paul O’Flaherty and I discussed the rumor in today’s Daily Brief but at that point it was still a dark horse rumor.

Joel Falconer over at The Next Web has more current information about the possible acquisition of Skype by Microsoft for the sum of $7 Billion; which apparently originated with the Wall Street Journal.

According to the WSJ post we could have a final announcement as soon as Tuesday and that the negotiations are wrapping up tonight as everyone is burning the midnight oil to try and solidify all the details.

Let’s hope that Microsoft is smart enough to buy everything to do with Skype, unlike eBay who neglected to acquire an integral part of Skype when they bought the company in 2005 for $2.6 billion. That mistake later came back to haunt them.

[Cross-posted at Winextra]