Who created Skype? Who owns Skype now?

Skype is a communication service provided by Microsoft that specializes in providing video chat and voice calls from computers, tablets, and mobile devices via the Internet to other devices or telephones/smartphones.

Skype was created in 2003 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 May 2011, Microsoft acquired Skype for $8.5 billion.

With Skype users can:

• Do voice calls
• Do video chat
• Send instant messages
• Exchange files and images
• Send video messages
• 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 for iPhone

⇐ Skype Pricing Options and Rates

⇑ General Questions on Microsoft Skype

⇑⇑ Skype - Frequently Asked Questions