Weekly #WhyMSFT Round-Up 11/9/2012

Each week, we round up industry news and articles you might have missed. Enjoy this week’s selections.

Skype Launches New Online Platform for Small Businesses
Skype launches the public Skype in the workspace, a new online platform for small businesses to instantly connect with potential customers, partners and suppliers across the globe.

End of an Era: Windows Live Messenger To Be Retired, Users Transitioned To Skype
Microsoft announces it will retire its Windows Live Messenger instant messaging service in favor of Skype.

Microsoft Launches Office, Azure Services In China
Microsoft signs memorandum of understanding with the municipality of Shanghai and China service provider 21Vianet that will allow it to offer Office 365 and Windows Azure cloud services to millions of potential business customers.

Microsoft MVPs Offer Exchange 2013 Preview, Office 365 Predictions
Microsoft MVPs predict “massive influx of Office 365 users” in 2013.

Microsoft's Shape the Future: Getting Kids Started on Windows 8
Microsoft’s Shape the Future helps to close the technology gap between rich and poor among British school children.

Microsoft Surface Tablet Makes Oprah's List of 'Favorite Things'
Microsoft’s new tablet gets a ringing endorsement from former talk show host Oprah Winfrey.