Skype

Skype
Skype Technologies · Public domain · source
Name	Skype
Developer	Microsoft
Operating system	Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS

Skype is a popular communication platform developed by Niklas Zennström and Janus Friis, two Swedish entrepreneurs, in collaboration with Ahti Heinla, Priit Kasesalu, and Jaak Riisalu, Estonian software developers, and Toivo Annus. The platform was first released in 2003 and quickly gained popularity due to its ability to provide free Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) calls between users, as well as its compatibility with various operating systems, including Windows XP, Windows Vista, and macOS X Leopard. eBay acquired the company in 2005, and later, in 2011, Microsoft acquired the platform for $8.5 billion, integrating it with its existing products, such as Microsoft Office and Windows Live Messenger. The acquisition was overseen by Steve Ballmer, then-CEO of Microsoft, and Tony Bates, the former CEO of Skype.

History of Skype

The history of Skype dates back to 2002, when Niklas Zennström and Janus Friis founded the company in Estonia, with the help of Ahti Heinla, Priit Kasesalu, and Jaak Riisalu. The first public version of the platform was released in 2003, and it quickly gained popularity due to its free VoIP calls and instant messaging features, which were also available on Yahoo! Messenger and MSN Messenger. In 2005, eBay acquired the company for $2.6 billion, with the goal of integrating it with its existing PayPal service, which was founded by Peter Thiel and Max Levchin. However, the acquisition was not successful, and in 2009, eBay sold a majority stake in the company to a group of investors, including Silver Lake Partners and Andreessen Horowitz, founded by Marc Andreessen and Ben Horowitz. In 2011, Microsoft acquired the platform for $8.5 billion, and since then, it has been integrated with various Microsoft products, including Microsoft Office 365, Windows 8, and Windows 10, developed by Satya Nadella, the current CEO of Microsoft.

Features and Functionality

Skype offers a range of features and functionality, including free VoIP calls, instant messaging, and file transfer, which are also available on Google Hangouts and Facebook Messenger, developed by Mark Zuckerberg and Brian Acton. The platform also supports video conferencing, screen sharing, and live subtitles, which are also available on Zoom Video Communications and Cisco Webex, founded by Subrah Iyar and Min Zhu. Additionally, Skype offers a range of premium features, including call forwarding, voicemail, and call recording, which are also available on AT&T and Verizon Communications, two of the largest telecommunications companies in the United States. The platform is available on a range of devices, including Windows and macOS computers, as well as Android and iOS mobile devices, developed by Google and Apple Inc., respectively.

Technical Details

Skype uses a range of technologies to provide its services, including Peer-to-Peer (P2P) networking, which is also used by BitTorrent and Napster, founded by Shawn Fanning and Sean Parker. The platform also uses VoIP protocols, such as SIP and H.323, which are also used by Cisco Systems and Avaya, two of the leading telecommunications equipment manufacturers. Additionally, Skype uses AES encryption to secure its communications, which is also used by WhatsApp and Signal Protocol, developed by Moxie Marlinspike and Brian Acton. The platform also supports WebRTC, which is an open-source project developed by Google, Mozilla, and Opera Software, to provide real-time communication capabilities in web browsers.

Business and Acquisition

Skype has undergone several acquisitions and changes in ownership throughout its history. In 2005, eBay acquired the company for $2.6 billion, but later sold a majority stake in 2009 to a group of investors, including Silver Lake Partners and Andreessen Horowitz. In 2011, Microsoft acquired the platform for $8.5 billion, and since then, it has been integrated with various Microsoft products, including Microsoft Office 365 and Windows 10. The acquisition was overseen by Steve Ballmer, then-CEO of Microsoft, and Tony Bates, the former CEO of Skype. Today, Skype is a subsidiary of Microsoft, and its services are used by millions of people around the world, including IBM, Accenture, and Deloitte, three of the largest consulting firms in the world.

Security and Privacy

Skype has faced several security and privacy concerns throughout its history, including concerns over its use of P2P networking and its handling of user data, which is also a concern for Facebook and Google. In 2013, it was revealed that Skype had been cooperating with the NSA and FBI to provide access to user communications, which is also a concern for Apple Inc. and Yahoo!. Additionally, the platform has been criticized for its use of AES encryption, which is considered to be vulnerable to certain types of attacks, such as side-channel attacks, which are also a concern for RSA Security and Symantec. However, Microsoft has taken steps to address these concerns, including the implementation of end-to-end encryption and the use of two-factor authentication, which is also used by Amazon Web Services and Google Cloud Platform.

Impact and Usage

Skype has had a significant impact on the way people communicate, particularly in the business and education sectors, where it is used by Harvard University, Stanford University, and MIT, three of the top universities in the world. The platform has also been used by governments and non-profit organizations, such as the United Nations and the Red Cross, to provide communication services in disaster relief and humanitarian efforts, which is also a concern for Doctors Without Borders and Oxfam. Today, Skype is used by millions of people around the world, including Elon Musk, Richard Branson, and Bill Gates, three of the most influential entrepreneurs in the world. The platform has also been integrated with various other services, including Microsoft Office 365 and Windows 10, to provide a range of communication and collaboration tools, which is also a feature of Google Workspace and Amazon Chime, developed by Jeff Bezos and Andy Jassy. Category:Software