What is Skype

Skype is one of the most popular Internet telephony services in the world, as well as the messenger preferred by many.

Skype was created by Skype Technologies SA V 2003. The history of creating a product for citizens of the post-Soviet space is noteworthy in that Estonians took part in writing the first program. And even now, according to information on Wikipedia, Skype has the majority of developers and almost half of the general department in its Estonian division. The company itself began as a national Swedish company, and positioned its program as VoiP- means of Internet telephony. After the acquisition of Skype Limited in 2011 by the corporation Microsoft, the company is a division of Microsoft with headquarters in Luxembourg,

What does the word Skype mean, which gives its name to the world famous program and company? It is useless to look in dictionaries for how this abbreviation is translated. Initially the application program was called Sky Peer-to-Peer, which can be translated as "sky peering". The name described the operating principle of the service, but it turned out to be too long, so they decided to shorten it to Skyper, the domain of the same name turned out to be busy, and we decided to use a truncated Skype.

First version 0.97 appeared in 2003, and since then the history of program versions is a history of innovation and world conquest. All versions of Skype - from the first to the latest - are the introduction of new technologies, targeting new types of devices and moving away from competitors. The number of users and market share of international calls is constantly growing.

What is Skype today? This is a free program with which users can make calls to other subscribers and exchange messages and files with them. Subscribers can also subscribe to paid services: calls to landline and Cell phones, SMS sending, Wi-Fi access. What can be done on Skype for free today, yesterday was only possible with a subscription: for example, . At the time of writing this material, beta testing of a version with a built-in function has been launched instant transfer. The dictionaries available for voice calls and chats vary. For voice communication, these are currently English and Spanish; for messages, there are 44 languages ​​used in Microsoft Translator. In the near future, we can expect simultaneous translation into Russian of conversations and words in more than 40 languages ​​of the world.

Those who have this program, prefer to use it both as a means of audio and video communication, and as a messenger, that is, via the Internet. Some argue that Skype is social network. But call it social network It is possible only with a very big stretch. Here, information about your posts is available only to a certain circle of users included in the correspondence, and the publicly available information, and even then only to your contacts, is how old you are on your birthday, a small photo and status. Still, Skype is a “regular” communication service, the main goal of which is to provide high-quality communication.

The application is so popular that even the uninitiated have many questions about it. We answer FAQ- FAQ.

What is Skype?

In what year did the application appear?

In 2003. This is both the founding date of the company and the creation of the first version.

Who owns the program?

After the 2011 deal, Skype became part of Microsoft Corporation

How many users around the world use Skype?

These data vary depending on the source. Usually operate with numbers "more than 300 million", and here is the wiki data - 660 million. We don’t know whether Wikipedia evaluates Skype correctly, but the fact that the number of users is huge is confirmed by official “modest” data, and reviews of the service are mostly good.

What does it mean that Skype uses VoiP?

This means that IP networks (one of which is the Internet) are used to connect subscribers. What the program does with them is another question. Skype sets the algorithm for using these networks and many other parameters.

Where is the complete archive of program versions stored?

Those versions that are no longer supported or that do not correspond to the level of technology used are not publicly available on the official website. To have access to them and be able to run them, you need to contact special repositories or specialists interested in the topic. They will help you decide what versions are available for your device if it is outdated, and what a particular product is needed for.

What does the Skype logo look like?

Skype is a trademark owned by Skype/Microsoft and is protected by copyright:

Therefore, the sign is integrated into the logo trademark tm / tm:

Please note: if an adapted spelling of the word “Skype” is possible in the text, then in the logo the word can only be used as it is written in English.

We hope this article allowed you to understand why Skype is needed, what it is and where it came from.

Now you need and - welcome to the world of limitless communication!

Video review:

Skype is free software that allows text, voice, and video communication over the Internet. On this moment Skype is the most popular means of communication over the Internet.

The history of Skype

Before the creation of Skype, two young entrepreneurs Niklas Zennström and Janus Friis, together with Estonian developers, created the extremely popular file-sharing application “KaZaA”. However, in 2001 this application was declared illegal and was closed. As a result, all that remained from the former popular application for entrepreneurs was a unique P2P protocol, which was the main feature of the application.

Having so much unique code, which made it more difficult to intercept and track information transferred between computers, entrepreneurs decided to create a new application based on it. They eventually received initial cash capital from an investor and began work.

On August 29, 2003, Skype Technologies was founded. On the same day, the first version of the Skype program was presented.

First versions of Skype

Initially, the program had an extremely simple interface. The program also featured a simpler form of account registration. At that time, Skype could only be used to make calls. It is precisely because of its ease of installation and registration that the program has gained great popularity among users.

In subsequent versions of Skype, an answering machine appeared, and the ability to send messages to other users was also added. In the same version, for the first time, users were able to link a Skype account with a mobile phone number.

In version 2.0, the ability to make video calls was added.

Selling Skype

In 2005, Skype became an extremely popular application. As a result, Ebay decided to acquire the rights to own the program. In the end, the app was sold for a record $2.6 billion. Thus, the founders of Skype Technologies became billionaires. Also, the programmers who worked on the creation of the program received $42 million. However, almost immediately after the sale, the former owners of the program sued Ebay for using the P2P protocol, which still belonged to them. The trial lasted for four years, and as a result, Ebay was forced to sell Skype. The former owners of Skype received a 14% stake in the service and also joined the board of directors.

At the time when Skype was owned by Ebay, the program acquired a new more Beautiful design. In addition, the number of registered users increased from 55 million to 400 million.

Selling Skype Microsoft

In 2011, Microsoft became seriously interested in purchasing Skype. As a result, both companies agreed to sell all rights to use the program for $8.5 billion. Microsoft took into account the mistakes of the previous buyer and previously discussed the acquisition of rights to the patent for the P2P protocol used in the application.
Having taken possession of Skype, Microsoft employees began to seriously update it. It was Microsoft that created modern look this application.

Features that the modern version of Skype has

• Voice communication. With Skype you can make free calls to the accounts of other users of the program. Moreover, you can communicate with one person or with several. It is also possible to make calls to mobile phone numbers, but this function is paid.
• Video calls. Any user has the ability to make video calls with other users of the program. This feature requires a webcam.
• Sending text messages. Skype also makes it possible to communicate with program users using text chats. Moreover, the application stores the history of correspondence with all users for up to 30 days. For convenience, special sets of emoticons have been added to the program.
• Transfer of various files. Skype users can freely exchange various files up to 300 MB in size.

Benefits of Skype

• Absolutely free audio and video calls between service participants.
• Send text messages and make calls to mobile phone numbers at extremely low prices.
• The ability to make group conferences via audio and video calls.
• Ability to transfer various files.
• A screen sharing feature that allows call participants to see what's happening on your screen.
• Skype is suitable for Windows, Linux and Mac, and also works on iPhone, Android and WindowsPhone.
• Reliability and confidentiality. The developers of the program have taken many different security measures to create privacy during negotiations.

Skype in modern world is the number one service for making voice and video calls. Since its inception in 2003, the messenger has gradually improved its interface to the point where anyone with basic skills can master it quickly.

It has paid and free versions. Latest version allows users to integrate their Skype and Facebook contacts. Such popularity of the messenger attracts special attention to the history of its creation.

First steps

The first question of any user who has been using the program for years and decided to take an interest in its history is “Who invented Skype?” The original founders of Skype were Scandinavians Janus Friis and Niklas Zennstrom, from Denmark and Sweden respectively. However, developers software there were three - Estonians Ahti Heinla, Priit Kazesalu and Jaan Tallinn, who created the previously famous file sharing site KaZaA.

These guys came up with the idea great idea– give any user with an Internet connection the opportunity to communicate and talk with any other subscriber. But that's not all, it would all be completely free.

On August 29, 2003, the developers released the first official release of the application, which instantly attracted the attention of thousands of users.

This was something surprising, especially for people from less developed countries where other means of communication were expensive, limited or completely impossible. People very quickly began to use Skype as a method of making free calls to anywhere in the world. In the blink of an eye, the application became popular throughout the world.

The founders' first earnings

After such rapid popularity and demand, the creators had to think that it was time for their product to generate income. They decided to start providing paid services - direct calls to regular phones from Skype and vice versa.

Moreover, they made it possible to make such calls at truly reduced prices, many times lower than regular landline or mobile calls.

In 2005, the messenger was actively used by more than 70 million people. Skype began to bring good money to its owners (about $35 million per quarter). But that was only the beginning.

Buying Skype on eBay

Also in 2005, the largest and most popular auction on the planet, eBay, bought Skype for an astounding $2.6 billion at the time. The auction owners did not fully understand why they this development, but they considered the deal big and profitable.

The very next year, 2006, Skype's revenue doubled and amounted to about $195 million. The number of active users also quickly grew to 171 million. In 2007, revenue reached $381 million, and there were already 278 million users.

During those four years that the messenger was owned by Ebay, the service became truly popular and in demand all over the world. The number of active users during this time increased from 55 to 400 million.

In November 2009, the program was sold again. eBay announced that they sold a 70% stake in the company for $2.5 billion. Moreover, the very first owners, those who created the program, received a 14% stake in the service and a seat on the board of directors. Without investing a penny in the development of the service. They simply promised in return that Ebay would not be sued for illegal use of their patent.

Microsoft era

In 2010, Skype's user base reached 663 million and revenue rose 20% to $860 million. But the company is still losing money, despite an annual loss of only $7 million.

In 2011, Microsoft announced that they were buying Skype and were willing to pay a whopping $8.5 billion for the deal. This was the largest acquisition that Windows developers had ever made.

Microsoft executives felt comfortable paying this amount because they had big plans. They planned to integrate Skype in their applications such as Windows, MS office, etc.

Skype is now available on devices running Windows 2000, XP, Vista, 7, 8 and Windows phones. In addition, for gadgets from Apple and Play Station Portable Sony.

Development of application versions

Skype 4.1 was launched in 2009. By 2010, Skype 4.1 was rooted on Windows, Mac and Linux. Skype is targeting the mobile market for devices such as Android, iPhone and iPad. Early versions allowed only voice calls. In December 2010, Skype video calling became available to iPhone users. By June 2011, Androids are using the same access.

Skype continues to expand into new markets, becoming available for applications such as Linux, smart TVs, gaming consoles. In May 2011, after taking over Microsoft, version 5.3 was released. It includes Facebook integration and group video calls.

The program was dynamic and greatly exceeded the original design. A large number of consumers have started switching to the new platform with group calling, unlimited national calling and the promise of an ad-free interface.

In November 2012, Microsoft announced that Skype would become its primary messaging service. Users can sign in with their Microsoft account. The Bing search bar was also included in the installer.

The messenger is gradually adapting to the general Microsoft style.

Skype has already established itself as a leading platform for video and voice calling, instant messaging, file sharing and collaborative chats. Microsoft has turned Skype into a winning investment and an amazing online voice and video communication program. Its creator can be proud of his creation.

What is Skype? What is Skype and how to use it? Skype is one of the most popular programs for communication on the Internet. https://site/ip-telefoniya/chto-takoe-skaip https://site/@@site-logo/logo.png

What is Skype? What is Skype and how to use it?

Skype is one of the most popular programs for communicating on the Internet.

What is Skype and how to use it?

Skype(read Skype) is a simple computer program (already Russified), thanks to which you can call other Skype subscribers all over the world completely free of charge. Those. provides free encrypted voice and video communications over the Internet between computers (VoIP), as well as paid services for communication with subscribers of regular and mobile telephone networks. It is possible to organize a conference call (up to 25 subscribers, including the initiator), transfer text messages, files, show your desktop, as well as video communication (currently when using standard client- up to two subscribers, and when using plug-ins from third-party manufacturers, their number is limited only by the channel bandwidth).

What is Skype? Skype offers many communication methods:

On Skype you will find many useful functions, thanks to which you will always be in touch with friends, family and colleagues, you will be able to share your thoughts and receive the necessary information.

Skype can be used on both your computer and mobile phone, so you can stay connected even on the go without changing your plans. Skype works on many mobile phones and devices such as the PlayStation® Portable (PSP®). There's also a huge selection of WiFi phones and cordless phones with Skype built-in.

To get started, try sending instant messages to someone on your contact list or open a group chat where several interlocutors can communicate at once. You can set up a conference call to discuss an upcoming meeting with friends, then use the Business Review Search™ to find the perfect place to host it.

Plus, you have great video calling capabilities. All you need is a webcam, which will allow you not only to use free video calls, but also to take photographs of yourself, so that you can later use these photos on Skype.

Skype is not intended for emergency calls

Skype is not a replacement for a regular telephone and cannot be used to make emergency calls

Finding friends on Skype

If you use Microsoft Outlook®, Outlook Express® or email Yahoo!, you can import data from these applications into your Skype address book. If your friends don't have Skype yet, you can send them an invitation to download Skype, and then you can chat for free. Don't be surprised if they send you a bouquet of flowers and chocolate: these are your grateful friends. And you deserve it.

Know other MySpace users? Convince them to download Skype or MySpaceIM from Skype. Then add them to your Skype address book, and your circle of contacts will significantly expand. Just find the name of the person you need in MySpaceIM.

Adding a new friend to your address book is easy. You can also add contacts to Skype who don't already have Skype and call them on landlines and mobile phones at low rates anywhere in the world.

If in yours address book Microsoft Outlook® stores phone numbers, they will appear in your contacts list and you can easily dial them directly into Skype. To call landlines or mobile phones, you need Skype Credit or a monthly subscription.

How to use Skype at work?

Are you an individual entrepreneur? Or an employee of a multinational holding? No matter how small or impressive your company's staff may be, with Skype you can save time and money and, most importantly, always stay one step ahead of the competition.

Skype allows businesses to find their unique way of working, no matter what their goals are or where their employees are located.
Voice, chat, video conferencing and even calling and texting on mobile phones - you choose how best to convey information to your colleagues and clients. Whatever your company, download the business version of Skype and take the first step towards minimizing costs and increasing profitability.
And if stopping there is not part of your plans, especially for you - Skype Manager, a centralized management system using Skype throughout the entire enterprise.

Skype Manager simplifies and optimizes the exchange of business information. With just one simple online tool, you can connect colleagues to your network and give them access to the information you need. functionality Skype and save money at the same time with our very competitive rates.

Where does Skype work?

Skype works on the following operating systems Mac systems OS X, GNU/Linux, Windows, Windows Phone, iPhone, Windows Mobile, Google Android, PSP, Symbian.

Skype works on TV. Free video communication on a big screen right in your living room is quite possible thanks to the latest developments from companies such as LG, Panasonic and Samsung: the latest models of TVs from these manufacturers are designed to work with Skype in high definition.

Where can I download Skype?

Just follow the link for your operating system:

How to pay for Skype services?

You can deposit money into your Skype account using Diners, MasterCard or Visa. Usage payment system Moneybookers Allows you to use your credit card, debit card or bank account to securely purchase Skype products. You can also pay for purchases on Skype through the system WebMoney. SkypeOut services can also be paid through Yandex money. Thanks to the company PayByCash You can pay for purchases on Skype using the payment methods used in your country, so you can do without a credit card.

When and by whom was Skype created?

The creators of Skype are Niklas Zennström and Janus Friis.

The first Skype appeared in September 2003.

In October 2005, the company was purchased by eBay for approximately $2.6 billion (an additional $500 million was later paid), although the company's annual turnover was less than $100 million. In April 2009, eBay executives announced that in the first In the middle of 2010, Skype will be sold on the stock exchange, since the activities of this company do not fit well with the online auction business.

The company's headquarters are located in Luxembourg, with branches in London, Prague, San Jose and Tallinn.

Events

2003

• Foundation of the company

• The company was bought by eBay for $2.7 billion

• March: Skype 3.1 released, new features added, including Skype Find and Skype Prime. Skype 3.2 beta has also become available with new features that allow you to send money via PayPal to other users.
• August: Skype 3.5 for Windows was released, now there is support for video in the profile, as well as the ability to insert video into a chat; transfer a call to another user or group; auto repeat call.
• August 15: Skype 2.7.0.49 (beta) for Mac OS.
• August 16-17: “Black Tuesday”, as a result of a failure Skype did not work for more than a day.

• January 30: Skype releases a version for Sony PSP.
• March 13: Skype 2.0 for Linux is released with video conferencing support.
• July 9: Skype 4.0 Beta was released, the fourth version has a new program interface.
• September 1: Skype closes SkypeCasts.
• September 12: at unlimited tariff Unlimited Europe for $5.95 now, in addition to calls to landlines in 21 European countries, includes Russian cities - St. Petersburg and Moscow.
• December 26: Skype releases version 1.0.0 for Nokia Nst-4 in system pack v1.0.0

• February 3: Skype 4.0 (Windows) released.
• March 31: Skype released a version for the Apple iPhone.
• May 12: Skype stopped supporting conferencing.
• September 1: eBay announced the sale of a 65% stake in Skype to Andreessen Horowitz investor group for $2 billion.
• November 9: Skype releases toolbar for MS Outlook

• January 19: Skype is another client of the Russian company SPIRIT in the field of IP telephony. The quality of sound transmission has been significantly improved.
• February 19: Skype ends support for Skype Lite (Skype for Java phones) and Skype for Windows Mobile.
• April 31: Skype released a version for the Apple iPad.
• August 9: Skype files for its first share issue. The company plans to raise $100 million during the placement of shares.
• September 2: Skype adds support for offline chat messages.
• October 5: Release of a full-fledged Skype client for Android.
• October 14: Skype 5.0 (Windows) was released, the fifth version has a new program interface and the ability to make group video calls has been added.
• December 22-23: Skype crashes worldwide.
• December 23, 18:20 Moscow time: Skype has been restored.

2012

In the release of the program dated January 10, 2013, integration with mail client Outlook.

On January 29, 2013, Microsoft stopped Windows support Live Messenger, completely switching to the development of Skype.

The February 22, 2013 version of Windows 8 added file sharing functionality, allowing users to exchange documents via instant messaging.

Released on February 27, 2013, version 3.2 for Android platforms adapted for 7-inch tablets.

On April 7, 2014, Microsoft announced the creation of Skype TX, a special Skype-based solution for television studios and radio stations. Since April 29, 2014, group video conferencing has become free. In September 2014, support for phones running the Symbian platform was discontinued.

What is Skype technology?

Unlike many other IP telephony programs, Skype uses a P2P architecture for data transmission. The Skype user directory is distributed across the computers of Skype network users, which allows the network to easily scale to very large sizes (currently more than 100 million users, 10-15 million online) without an expensive infrastructure of centralized servers. In addition, Skype can route calls through other users' computers. This allows users behind a NAT or firewall to connect to each other, but creates additional load on the computers and channels of users connected directly to the Internet.

The only central element for Skype is the identity server, which stores user accounts and backup copies of their contact lists. The central server is needed only to establish communication. Once the connection is established, the computers send voice data directly to each other (if there is a direct connection between them), or through a Skype intermediary (a supernode - a computer that has an external IP address and an open TCP port for Skype). In particular, if two computers located inside the same local network, have established a Skype connection with each other, then the connection with the Internet can be interrupted, and the conversation will continue until it is terminated by the users or there is some kind of communication failure within the local network.

Thanks to the codecs used by Skype (data compression algorithms) SVOPC (16 kHz), AMR-WB (16 kHz), G.729 (8 kHz) and G.711 (ILBC and ISAC were also previously used) and with sufficient Internet connection speed ( 30-60 kbit/s) in most cases the sound quality exceeds the quality of regular telephone communication.

When establishing a connection between PCs, the data is encrypted using AES-256, which in turn uses a 1024-bit RSA key to transmit the key.

The Skype VoIP protocol is closed and is used only by the original Skype software. Using the API, third-party programs can access its functions.

There are no cases of decryption and/or interception of data on Skype officially confirmed by the developer.

For stable use of video communication, an Internet connection speed of 200 kbit/s is required and is desirable clock frequency processor from 1 GHz.

What is the history of Skype?

The first versions (versions 0.97, 0.98) of the program appeared in September-October 2003. The program simultaneously supported 10 languages ​​and had a simple, logical interface, initially adapted (unlike ICQ and MS-Messenger) for voice communication. During installation, Skype itself chose the Windows localization language and made login registration easier and faster than in competing programs. It was the ease of installation, learning and use of the program that quickly attracted the attention of a large number of users to it. In version 1.2, an answering machine (Voicemail) appeared for the first time, and starting from 1.3, any of its owners could leave messages to other users, even if they did not use this service. 1.2 also introduced the SkypeIn feature, which allows you to connect account Skype with phone number.

Starting with version 1.4, it became possible to redirect calls to other Skype accounts, as well as to regular phones.

In version 2.0, for the first time, the possibility of video communication appeared, and in 2.5 - the ability to send SMS, organize Skypecasts (this technology has been officially disabled since September 1, 2008) and integration with Microsoft Outlook.

In version 3, a service (SkypeFind) appeared that allows users to create a list of companies and give a description of them. Nowadays it is filled to a large extent with spam.

Skype 3.5, version for Nokia Nst-4 The Skype client can be installed on a compatible phone or PDA, resulting in significant cost savings due to the low tariffs of the system. However, mobile operators do not want to lose excess profits and are slowing down the process in every possible way. T-Mobile is the largest provider cellular communication in Germany - stated that it would block Skype Internet telephony traffic on iPhone smartphones. It comes to the point that the lobby mobile operators is trying to ban Skype, and at the same time ICQ, in Russia.

What are Skype services? What are paid Skype services?

SkypeOut tariffs as of March 2006 in US dollars per minute of conversation SkypeOut Allows you to make outgoing calls to landlines and mobile phones in most countries of the world. Payment is per minute, differentiated. Calls to toll free numbers(such as +1 800 in the USA) are free, and even users who have not paid for the SkypeOut service can use them. Also, through SkypeOut, incoming Skype calls are made to the phone from mobile application Skype Lite. 180 days after the last SkypeOut call, your balance expires. SkypeIn Allows you to receive phone calls from users of traditional telephone networks. In this case, the participant receives a telephone number in one of the following countries: Australia, Brazil, Germany, Denmark, Poland, Sweden, Switzerland, Finland, Estonia, France, Great Britain, USA, Japan and Hong Kong (China). All incoming calls to this number will be sent to your Skype account, and if the score is positive, calls can be forwarded to any phone number. As a bonus to phone number Skype provides a free answering machine for the entire time you use the number. Skype Voicemail Free services Main article: Skypecast Screenshot Skype programs when participating in SkypecastSkypeCast (from the English Skype - VoIP and broadcasting program) - broadcasting, sometimes the abbreviated “cast” is used) - a type of voice communication between a group of Skype users (up to 150 people). Outwardly similar to a conference call, however, unlike it, it is installed through a central server, as a result of which it does not place high demands on bandwidth channel of the user who initiated the conversation.

What are Skype gadgets and products?

Skype produces and sells various products for the Skype program. For example, the wireless phone RTX Dualphone 3088 for calls without a computer. The phone allows you to make and receive calls both via Skype and on a regular telephone network without a computer. Skype also releases Freetalk Wireless headsets - wireless headphones with a USB transmitter for wireless communication via Skype, equipment for video calls (Freetalk Buddy Pack) and webcams (Freetalk Connect 2).

Attempts to ban Skype

Telecommunications Commission and information technology The Russian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs (RSPP) is preparing recommendations to ban Skype in Russia. The interests of telecom operators participating in the RSPP are clear: thanks to the presence of Skype, millions of Internet users in Russia have the opportunity to bypass the existing high tariffs for international telephone communication. In addition, the initiators of the ban and the FSB claim that Skype is difficult to eavesdrop on due to its lack of connection to SORM.

In Belarus, all calls over the network must go through the state operator, and the use of other international networks, including Skype, is considered a violation of the law.

Europe's largest telecommunications company, Deutsche Telekom, said it would block Skype when people try to use it on an iPhone.

Access to Skype may be blocked by hardware. Verso Technologies and Cisco Systems have similar solutions. In particular, they are used by the largest Chinese provider China Telecom. Similarly, Skype is blocked in the UAE.

In response to attempts to ban Skype, its developers began to introduce traffic masking tools into the program to bypass VoIP blocking. In addition, Skype can work with proxy servers, VPN and Tor, which practically negates the effectiveness of its blocking.

Number of Skype users.

Year (end of year) Registered users Online users
2005 74 million 10.8 million

Comparison of Skype with other programs

Over the ten years of its existence, Skype, a unique program for free voice communication over the Internet, based on peer-to-peer technology and allowing you not to worry about interception of calls, has turned into one of the many Microsoft services supervised by all self-respecting intelligence agencies in the world. How could this happen? The usual thing is money.

KaZaA

The real story of Skype began in 2000, when two employees of the Swedish telecommunications company Tele2 - Swede Niklas Zennström with an engineering and business education and Danish Janus Friis, who did not even have a completed secondary education - were brought in to work on the entertainment and news portal Everyday.com , the likes of which were just then becoming fashionable. Probably to save money, the management of the Estonian branch of Tele2 placed an advertisement in the local newspaper for the recruitment of qualified programmers with a salary of about $300 per day.

At first, reviews of Skype were skeptical, primarily because mediocre quality sound, but the fact that this application allowed you to communicate for free with people on the other side of the world made you look at it from a completely different perspective. The famous American venture capitalist William Draper decided to invest in the people who made KaZaA, and the millions he invested returned to him a thousand times larger.

The first full-fledged Skype version was released on August 29, 2003, and the company of the same name was registered in Luxembourg, a country that does not welcome the interference of foreign jurisdictions in the activities of its legal entities. And this was very reasonable, because the “Robin Hoods” of file sharing have now become the worst enemies of all telecommunications companies in the world. On the first day, 10,000 people downloaded Skype.

Skype: the era of eBay

After the experience with KaZaA, Skype was initially created as a product protected from interception: all conversations were necessarily encrypted, and computers connected to the network had to act as server-supernodes to one degree or another. The only necessary central element of the network is a server with user accounts and backup copies lists of their contacts, containing no other information. Skype easily bypassed firewalls, skillfully masked its traffic, leaked through any available ports and left no trace of its presence on the Internet.

As a result, for some time it became the favorite tool of criminals of all stripes, and with the discovery paid services(for example, calls to SkypeOut phones) they even began to use it for money laundering. It is not surprising that law enforcement agencies and intelligence agencies of all countries, as well as representatives of telecommunications companies, bombarded Skype's Luxembourg and London offices with a wide variety of angry demands, which the company's lawyers simply threw in the trash without reading them.

This was possible not only thanks to the Luxembourg “registration” of the company, but also due to the fact that Zennström and Friis now paid the closest attention to the legal support of the business: the experience of KaZaA forced them to make every effort to ensure that the next enterprise was one hundred percent legal. In particular, Skype was never registered as a telecom operator; instead, the firm was considered an “electronic information provider”, like, for example, an enterprise providing email services.

Until 2005, Skype bore little resemblance to a typical high-tech business: price lists for paid services were compiled without relying on any marketing research, staff were recruited based on the results of simple tests, and salary amounts and even terms of payment were not stated anywhere. None of the three Skype offices - in Tallinn, Luxembourg and London - had even signs, and the offices themselves were impossible to find for a random person.

At the same time, the number of lawsuits against Skype was constantly growing, while Yahoo!, AOL, Microsoft and Google announced their intention to open similar services of their own in the near future. In the summer of 2005, Zennström and Friis began negotiations with eBay, and in September it was announced that Skype had been sold to this largest Internet auction for $2.6 billion: this became the most impressive eBay purchase throughout history. The partners woke up as billionaires, and the Estonian team of programmers received $42 million each. In addition, another 140 people in Tallinn and London had small shares in the company.

It is unlikely that eBay really understood that O they bought it, and most importantly, why. The cultural differences between the company's Estonian and American staff were so great that even corporate parties held in Pärnu shocked the Americans. eBay's hair stood on end when they saw a live telecast of the 2006 Skype party, where Zennström personally poured vodka for everyone, and guests splashed in the pool with their clothes on.

At the same time, Skype brought much less profit than headaches, and in 2009 eBay decided to spin it off into a separate company and put its shares on the stock exchange. And then the former owners Zennström and Friis appeared on the scene again with an offer to buy Skype back. Moreover, they had a well-known argument in their arsenal: all rights to patents still remained the property of the Joltid offshore, and eBay store used them under license. Meanwhile, eBay managed to sell 65% of Skype shares to the Andreessen Horowitz investment fund, as a result of which Joltid started litigation against two rivals, accusing them of illegally using other people's patents.

The situation was resolved by a settlement agreement with eBay, which ultimately received nothing but a waiver of prosecution by Joltid and licenses for their peer-to-peer technology. And already in 2011, Skype was bought by Microsoft for $8.5 billion.

Skype: the era of Microsoft

The acquisition of Skype was also the largest purchase in history for Microsoft, as well as for eBay. Zennström and Friis received impressive money for the second time for their most successful venture. For now, Skype is still an independent application that is being worked on Microsoft Skype division, with offices in Luxembourg, Tartu and Tallinn. But, knowing Microsoft, there is no doubt that in the future this application will become only part of the code of some larger branded product, and the name Skype itself will remain in the past.

And, most importantly, nothing remains of the former secrecy of the negotiations: according to former NSA employee Edward Snowden, US intelligence agencies got behind the scenes of Skype with the help of eBay, and in order to disguise the technical and legal consequences of such actions, a secret Chess project was allegedly developed, about which only a few people at eBay knew. There is no doubt that this collaboration continues in the Microsoft era. In addition, now the communication technology itself has been changed in such a way that it is no longer possible to create supernodes on some individual computers within the network that meet purely technical requirements: all their functions have been transferred to Microsoft servers.

In turn, the user agreement now allows access to transmitted data both from Microsoft itself and from affiliated companies and Internet providers. The intelligence services of several states, including, of course, Russia, have already openly announced the availability of means to control Skype conversations.

Of the entire original Skype team, only one person continues to work on the system - Priit Kazesalu. Annus quit immediately after selling the system to eBay; Tallinn and Heinla lasted a couple more years. All of them are now very wealthy people who invest money in a variety of startups: Tallinn, for example, participates in the Lifeboat Foundation project to “save humanity” and owns the “personalized medical care” company MetaMed. Billionaires Zennström and Friis are enjoying life and are seen in acts of charity.