Italian VoIP provider objects to Skype deal

A Milan-based VoIP provider has filed a complaint against Microsoft’s purchase of Skype, arguing that it is a Skype competitor and will be hurt if the free VoIP service is built-in to Windows operating systems.

The company, Messagenet, not only wants to block the bundling of Skype from Windows, but wants regulators to give Skype competitors access to Skype’s subscribers to allow services to interconnect.

The $8.5 billion Microsoft-Skype deal has already gained U.S. approvals. The EU is expected to rule on the deal sometime this week, though the Messagenet complaint may delay the decision.