Skype – is a free proprietary software with closed-source, providing encrypted voice communication over the Internet between computers (VoIP), as well as paid services for subscribers with regular telephone network.

The organization of the conference call (up to 25 subscribers, including the initiator) is possible, you can also send text messages and files, and also video connection is possible (currently using the standard client – up to two subscribers, and using third-party plug-ins, their number is limited only by bandwidth).

There are clients for Mac OS X, GNU / Linux, Windows NT, iPhone, Windows Mobile, Google Android, PSP, Symbian 6, 7, 8, 9.0, 9.1, 9.2, 9.4.

About

The creators of Skype are Swede Niklas Zennström and Dane Janus Friis.

The first release of the program and site appeared in September 2003.

In October 2005 the company was bought by eBay for about 2.6 billion dollars (later eBay payed another $ 500 million), although the annual turnover was less than 100 million dollars.

In April 2009, eBay executives have announced that in the first half of 2010, Skype will be sold on the stock exchange, as the activities of this company does not fit well with the business online auction.

The headquarters is located in Luxembourg, and branch offices – in London, Prague, San Jose and Tallinn.