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Skype

This article is about the software. For the subsidiary company that developed it, see Skype Technologies. For the enterprise application formerly known as Microsoft Lync, see Skype for Business.

Skype
Original author(s)Priit Kasesalu and Jaan Tallinn
Developer(s)
Initial release29 August 2003 (2003-08-29)
Stable release(s) [±]
Windows, UWP, discontinued15.150.3125.0 / 5 May 2025 (2025-05-05)[1][2][3]
Windows, desktop, discontinued8.150.0.125 / 5 May 2025 (2025-05-05)[1][2]
macOS, discontinued8.150.0.125 / 5 May 2025 (2025-05-05)[1][2]
Linux, discontinued8.150.0.125 / 5 May 2025 (2025-05-05)[1][4]
Android, discontinued8.150.0.125 / 5 May 2025 (2025-05-05)[5][6][7]
iOS, discontinued8.150.0.125 / 5 May 2025 (2025-05-05)[5][8]
Operating systemWindows, Windows Server, Windows Phone, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS, iPadOS, WatchOS, Wear OS, HoloLens, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S
PredecessorMSN Messenger
SuccessorMicrosoft Teams
Available in108 languages[9]
TypeVideoconferencing, VoIP and Instant messaging
LicenseProprietary software
Websitewww.skype.com (archived January 2025)
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Skype

Skype (/skaɪp/) was a proprietary telecommunications application operated by Skype Technologies, a division of Microsoft, best known for IP-based videotelephony, videoconferencing and voice calls. It also had instant messaging, file transfer, debit-based calls to landline and mobile telephones (over traditional telephone networks), and other features. It was available on various desktop, mobile, and video game console platforms.

Skype was created by Niklas Zennström, Janus Friis, and four Estonian developers, and first released in August 2003. In September 2005, eBay acquired it for $2.6 billion.[10] In September 2009,[11] Silver Lake, Andreessen Horowitz, and the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board bought 65% of Skype for $1.9 billion from eBay, valuing the business at $2.92 billion. In May 2011, Microsoft bought Skype for $8.5 billion and used it to replace its own Windows Live Messenger. As of 2011, most of the development team and 44% of all the division's employees were in Tallinn and Tartu, Estonia.[12][13][14]

Skype originally featured a hybrid peer-to-peer and client–server system.[15] It became entirely powered by Microsoft-operated supernodes in May 2012;[16] in 2017, it changed from a peer-to-peer service to a centralized Azure-based service. In February 2023, it was used by 36 million people each day.[17]

The service was retired on 5 May 2025;[18][19][20] its website now refers users to Microsoft Teams.[21][better source needed]

  1. ^ a b c d "Release Notes for Skype for Windows, Mac and Linux". Skype Support. Retrieved 6 May 2025.
  2. ^ a b c "Get Skype". Skype. Retrieved 6 May 2025.
  3. ^ "Skype". Microsoft Apps. Retrieved 6 May 2025.
  4. ^ "Install Skype on Linux". Snap Store. Retrieved 6 May 2025.
  5. ^ a b "Release Notes for Skype on Mobile". Skype Support. Retrieved 6 May 2025.
  6. ^ "Skype". Google Play. Retrieved 6 May 2025.
  7. ^ "Skype 8.150.0.125". APKMirror. 5 May 2025. Retrieved 6 May 2025.
  8. ^ "Skype". App Store. Retrieved 6 May 2025.
  9. ^ "Skype". Microsoft Store.
  10. ^ "EBay to buy Skype in $2.6bn deal". BBC News. 12 September 2005. Retrieved 2 October 2014.
  11. ^ "Canada Pension plan buys Skype stake | Toronto Star". Thestar. 2 September 2014. Retrieved 21 August 2014.
  12. ^ "Skype eelistab odavat Eesti tööjõudu". Äripäev. Archived from the original on 29 September 2011. Retrieved 10 May 2011.
  13. ^ "Tony Bates Weighs in on Microsoft's Acquisition of Skype – – Skype Blogs". Skype Blogs. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011.
  14. ^ "Microsoft confirms takeover of Skype". BBC News. 10 May 2011. Retrieved 6 November 2012.
  15. ^ Ferdinand, Von Götzen (1 December 2014). "An interview with Jaan Tallinn, co-founder and author of Skype". Affairs Today. Archived from the original on 7 December 2014.
  16. ^ "Skype replaces P2P supernodes with Linux boxes hosted by Microsoft (updated)". May 2012.
  17. ^ "The new Bing preview experience arrives on Bing and Edge Mobile apps; introducing Bing now in Skype". Official Microsoft Blog. 22 February 2023. Retrieved 21 May 2023.
  18. ^ Warren, Tom (28 February 2025). "Microsoft is shutting down Skype in favor of Teams". The Verge. Retrieved 28 February 2025.
  19. ^ Teper, Jeff (28 February 2025). "The next chapter: Moving from Skype to Microsoft Teams". Microsoft 365 Blog. Retrieved 4 March 2025.
  20. ^ "Skype shutting down: Your memories as Microsoft shuts down the video calling service". BBC News. 4 May 2025. Retrieved 5 May 2025.
  21. ^ "Skype | Stay connected with free video calls worldwide". Archived from the original on 20 May 2025. Retrieved 28 May 2025.

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