Expects to close the deal this month.
Skype has sprung a surprise at the CES show by announcing plans to buy livestreaming video service Qik.
The transaction is expected to close this month, but for now Skype is not saying how much it is paying for the US mobile startup.
Qik's service allows people to broadcast live video from their mobile phones, to be watched on other handsets or online. Footage is also archived, which seems to be one of the reasons for the deal.
"The acquisition of Qik helps accelerate Skype’s leadership in video by adding recording, sharing and storing capabilities to Skype’s product portfolio," explains the announcement.
"Through this acquisition, Skype will also be able to leverage the engineering expertise that is behind Qik’s Smart Streaming™ technology, which optimizes video transmission over wireless networks."
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There's no doubt that video is increasingly important to Skype - the company claims 40% of Skype-to-Skype calls involve video - so Qik's engineering team will be put to good use.
At this stage, it's not clear if the standalone Qik livestreaming service will continue, or be shut down to enable the startup's team to focus on Skype's technology.
