It became entirely powered by Microsoft-operated supernodes in May 2012, and in 2017 transitioned Skype from a peer-to-peer service to a centralized Azure-based service. Skype originally featured a hybrid peer-to-peer and client–server system. As of 2011, most of the development team and 44% of all the division's employees are still situated in Tallinn and Tartu, Estonia.

Microsoft bought Skype in May 2011 for $8.5 billion, replacing their Windows Live Messenger with it. In September 2009, Silver Lake, Andreessen Horowitz, and the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board announced the acquisition of 65% of Skype for $1.9 billion from eBay, which attributed to the enterprise a market value of $2.92 billion. In September 2005, eBay acquired Skype for $2.6 billion. įirst released in August 2003, Skype was the creation of Niklas Zennström and Janus Friis, in cooperation with four Estonian developers. As of March 2020, Skype was used by 100 million people on a monthly basis and by 40 million people on a daily basis.

Skype is available on various desktop, mobile and video game console platforms, and is operated by Skype Technologies, a division of Microsoft. It also has instant messaging, file transfer, debit-based calls to landline and mobile telephones (over traditional telephone networks), and other features. Skype ( / s k aɪ p/) is a proprietary telecommunications application that specializes in providing VoIP-based videotelephony, videoconferencing and voice calls. Videoconferencing, VoIP and Instant messaging Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS, iPadOS, HoloLens, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S

Older versions of skype for ipad 5.1.1