Microsoft's purchase of Skype for $8.5 billion back in October was considered a risky move by some investors and analysts. Since that time, Microsoft has been trying to give its new Skype division, and its employees, more leeway than normal for a Microsoft-owned organization.

In an article today on The New York Times website, it points out the Skype has offices around the world but little Skype development is done at Microsoft's home based in Redmond, Washington. Tony Bates, the head of the Skype division, said that when they got their new security badges from Microsoft, Bates insisted they have the Skype logo. He states, "We’ve kept our identity and our autonomy."

Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer even showed up recently at Skype's offices in Estonia and participated in a ritual for new employees that involved drinking Millimallikas, described as "a mixture of sambuca, tequila and Tabasco sauce."

However, all that independence won't help Microsoft unless it integrates Skype into more of its products. Its first public release of the Windows Phone client is still lacking major features. Perhaps the next biggest version of Skype will be the one that's released for the Windows 8 Metro interface, which could launch alongside the OS later this year.

Source: New York Times