skype

Skype is a telecommunications application that provides voice and video calls, instant messaging, and file transfer over the Internet. It was launched in 2003 by Niklas Zennström and Janus Friis and developed by Skype Technologies. The name Skype is a blend of "sky" and "peer-to-peer," reflecting its origins as a peer-to-peer voice communication service that popularized VoIP among consumers.

In 2005 Skype was acquired by eBay and later sold to Microsoft in 2011 for about $8.5 billion. Since then it has been integrated into the Microsoft ecosystem, while continuing to operate as a consumer product with business-focused features evolving toward Microsoft Teams.

Skype enables free voice and video calls between Skype users, instant messaging, group video calls, file transfer, and screen sharing. It also offers paid options for calling landlines and mobile phones through Skype Credit or subscriptions. Real-time translation features exist via Skype Translator, and there is an option for Private Conversations with end-to-end encryption for two participants.

It is available on Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android, and via a web client. It supports cross-platform synchronization and integrates with Microsoft accounts. Enterprises largely transitioned to Teams, with Skype for Business Online retired in 2021.

Security-wise, communications are encrypted in transit using TLS and media streams with SRTP; end-to-end encryption is available for Private Conversations among two users.