Microsoft Corporation is planning to restructure their marketing operations, which may lead to hundreds of job cuts. The plans may be shifted according to sources with Bloomberg. When the marketing operations shift, overlaps in job responsibilities are expected to be eliminated.

The year 2011 has not been a great year for Windows Phone, but 2012 may be different. Now there is a decent selection of Windows Phone devices that are out there, including the Nokia Lumia 900. Morgan Stanley is expecting shipment of Nokia’s new Windows-based devices to hit about 37 million units in 2012 and 64 million in 2013.

Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) is moving the current head of the Windows Phone division Andy Lees to another role within the company. Microsoft corporate VP Terry Myerson will fill in for Lees. Currently Myerson leads the engineering division of Microsoft Windows Phone and now he will be responsible for business development, marketing, etc.

Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) is expected to launch the first beta of Office 15 in January according to WinRumors. Microsoft Office 15 is currently the code-name for the next version of Office. It is expected to be showcased at CES 2012 alongside Windows 8 beta.

Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) has officially closed the acquisition of Skype Global S.à r.l for $8.5 billion. The board of directors at Microsoft and Skype previously approved the acquisition.

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It appears that Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) has an interest in Google Android doing well too. According to Citi analyst Walter Pritchard, Microsoft receives $5 for every HTC Android phone that is sold as part of a patent settlement.

Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) CEO Steve Ballmer said that there will 500 new features on the Microsoft Windows Phone 7.5 operating system at the Microsoft Developers Forum 2011. Windows Phone 7.5 has the code-name Mango, which is the software that Nokia plans on using on their smartphones.

It has been confirmed that Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) is acquiring Skype for $8.5 billion in cash from major shareholder Silver Lake. The Microsoft and Skype board of directors has approved of the deal. As of the end of 2010, Skype had 170 million users and accounted for 207 billion minutes of voice and video conversations.