Skype :
Skype /ˈskaɪp/ is a telecommunications application software product that specializes in providing video chat and voice calls from computers, tablets, and mobile devices via the Internet to other devices or telephones/smartphones. Users can also send instant messages, exchange files and images, send video messages, and create conference calls. Skype is available to download onto computers running Microsoft Windows, Mac, or Linux, as well as Android, Blackberry, iOS, and Windows Phone smartphones and tablets. Much of the service is free, but users require Skype Credit or a subscription to call landline or mobile numbers. Skype is based on a freemium model.
First released in August 2003, Skype was created by Dane Janus Friis and Swede Niklas Zennström in cooperation with Estonians Ahti Heinla, Priit Kasesalu, and Jaan Tallinn, who developed the backend, which was also used in music-sharing application Kazaa. In September 2005, eBay acquired Skype for $2.6 billion. In September 2009, Silver Lake, Andreessen Horowitz, and the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board announced the acquisition of 65% of Skype for $1.9 billion from eBay, valuing the business at $2.75 billion. Skype was later acquired by Microsoft in May 2011 for $8.5 billion. Microsoft's Skype division headquarters are in Luxembourg, but most of the development team and 44% of the overall employees of the division are still situated in Tallinn and Tartu, Estonia.
Skype allows users to communicate by voice using a microphone, video by using a webcam, and instant messaging over the Internet. Skype-to-Skype calls to other users are free of charge, while calls to landline telephones and mobile phones (over traditional telephone networks) are charged via a debit-based user account system called Skype Credit.
Skype originally featured a hybrid peer-to-peer and client–server system;[23] however, since May 2012, Skype is entirely powered by Microsoft-operated supernodes.[24] The 2013 mass surveillance disclosures revealed that Microsoft has granted intelligence agencies unfettered access to supernodes and Skype communication content.[25]
The name for the software is derived from "Sky peer-to-peer", which was then abbreviated to "Skyper". However, some of the domain names associated with "Skyper" were already taken.[26] Dropping the final "r" left the current title "Skype", for which domain names were available.[27]
Some network administrators have banned Skype on corporate, government, home, and education networks,[28] citing reasons such as inappropriate usage of resources, excessive bandwidth usage, and security concerns.[29]
As of February 2012, there were 34 million concurrently online on Skype;[30] at the end of 2010, there were over 660 million worldwide users with an average of over 100 million active each month.[3
Skype was founded in 2003 by Janus Friis, from Denmark, and Niklas Zennström, from Sweden.[32] The Skype software was created by Estonians Ahti Heinla, Priit Kasesalu, and Jaan Tallinn.[33] The first public beta version was released on 29 August 2003.[34]
In June 2005, Skype entered into an agreement with the Polish web portal Onet.pl.[35] On 12 September 2005, eBay Inc. agreed to acquire Luxembourg-based Skype Technologies SA for approximately US$2.5 billion in up-front cash and eBay stock, plus potential performance-based consideration.[36]
On 1 September 2009, it was announced that eBay was selling 65% of Skype to Silver Lake, Andreessen Horowitz, and the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board for US$1.9 billion, valuing Skype at US$2.75 billion.
On June 11, 2015, it was announced that a limited version designed for Windows 8 called Skype for Modern Windows would be discontinued on July 7 and users would be required to use the full desktop version. On Windows RT, which forbids most desktop apps, Skype for Modern Windows was exempted from the change.
Microsoft acquisition[edit]
On 10 May 2011, Microsoft Corporation acquired Skype Communications, S.à r.l for US$8.5 billion.[37] The company was incorporated as a division of Microsoft, and Microsoft acquired all of the company's technologies with the purchase. This was completed on 13 October 2011.[37][38]
Microsoft phased out its long-standing Windows Live Messenger instant messaging service in favour of Skype, although Messenger continues in mainland China.[39] Microsoft began this transition on 8 April 2013 and completed the move by 30 April of the same year.
Skype /ˈskaɪp/ is a telecommunications application software product that specializes in providing video chat and voice calls from computers, tablets, and mobile devices via the Internet to other devices or telephones/smartphones. Users can also send instant messages, exchange files and images, send video messages, and create conference calls. Skype is available to download onto computers running Microsoft Windows, Mac, or Linux, as well as Android, Blackberry, iOS, and Windows Phone smartphones and tablets. Much of the service is free, but users require Skype Credit or a subscription to call landline or mobile numbers. Skype is based on a freemium model.
First released in August 2003, Skype was created by Dane Janus Friis and Swede Niklas Zennström in cooperation with Estonians Ahti Heinla, Priit Kasesalu, and Jaan Tallinn, who developed the backend, which was also used in music-sharing application Kazaa. In September 2005, eBay acquired Skype for $2.6 billion. In September 2009, Silver Lake, Andreessen Horowitz, and the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board announced the acquisition of 65% of Skype for $1.9 billion from eBay, valuing the business at $2.75 billion. Skype was later acquired by Microsoft in May 2011 for $8.5 billion. Microsoft's Skype division headquarters are in Luxembourg, but most of the development team and 44% of the overall employees of the division are still situated in Tallinn and Tartu, Estonia.
Skype allows users to communicate by voice using a microphone, video by using a webcam, and instant messaging over the Internet. Skype-to-Skype calls to other users are free of charge, while calls to landline telephones and mobile phones (over traditional telephone networks) are charged via a debit-based user account system called Skype Credit.
Skype originally featured a hybrid peer-to-peer and client–server system;[23] however, since May 2012, Skype is entirely powered by Microsoft-operated supernodes.[24] The 2013 mass surveillance disclosures revealed that Microsoft has granted intelligence agencies unfettered access to supernodes and Skype communication content.[25]
The name for the software is derived from "Sky peer-to-peer", which was then abbreviated to "Skyper". However, some of the domain names associated with "Skyper" were already taken.[26] Dropping the final "r" left the current title "Skype", for which domain names were available.[27]
Some network administrators have banned Skype on corporate, government, home, and education networks,[28] citing reasons such as inappropriate usage of resources, excessive bandwidth usage, and security concerns.[29]
As of February 2012, there were 34 million concurrently online on Skype;[30] at the end of 2010, there were over 660 million worldwide users with an average of over 100 million active each month.[3
Skype was founded in 2003 by Janus Friis, from Denmark, and Niklas Zennström, from Sweden.[32] The Skype software was created by Estonians Ahti Heinla, Priit Kasesalu, and Jaan Tallinn.[33] The first public beta version was released on 29 August 2003.[34]
In June 2005, Skype entered into an agreement with the Polish web portal Onet.pl.[35] On 12 September 2005, eBay Inc. agreed to acquire Luxembourg-based Skype Technologies SA for approximately US$2.5 billion in up-front cash and eBay stock, plus potential performance-based consideration.[36]
On 1 September 2009, it was announced that eBay was selling 65% of Skype to Silver Lake, Andreessen Horowitz, and the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board for US$1.9 billion, valuing Skype at US$2.75 billion.
On June 11, 2015, it was announced that a limited version designed for Windows 8 called Skype for Modern Windows would be discontinued on July 7 and users would be required to use the full desktop version. On Windows RT, which forbids most desktop apps, Skype for Modern Windows was exempted from the change.
Microsoft acquisition[edit]
On 10 May 2011, Microsoft Corporation acquired Skype Communications, S.à r.l for US$8.5 billion.[37] The company was incorporated as a division of Microsoft, and Microsoft acquired all of the company's technologies with the purchase. This was completed on 13 October 2011.[37][38]
Microsoft phased out its long-standing Windows Live Messenger instant messaging service in favour of Skype, although Messenger continues in mainland China.[39] Microsoft began this transition on 8 April 2013 and completed the move by 30 April of the same year.
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