History of Skype
Skype was launched in 2003 by Niklas Zennström and Janus Friis, with software developed by Estonian engineers Ahti Heinla, Priit Kasesalu, and Jaan Tallinn. It was one of the first applications to enable free voice and video calls over the internet, using peer-to-peer (P2P) technology similar to their earlier file-sharing service, Kazaa. Skype quickly gained popularity, offering affordable international calling and instant messaging, which made it a favorite among businesses and individuals alike.
In 2005, eBay acquired Skype for $2.6 billion but struggled to integrate it with its services. In 2011, Microsoft bought Skype for $8.5 billion, replacing its Windows Live Messenger with Skype as the default messaging platform. Under Microsoft, Skype transitioned from P2P to cloud-based infrastructure, improving reliability but leading to criticism over privacy and performance. Despite competition from newer platforms like Zoom and WhatsApp, Skype remains a well-known name in online communication.