SHORT REPORT

Short Report



Short Report

Introduction

Skype is an online international phone service that allows people to communicate with each other with the help of an internet connection. Subscribers of Skype can communicate with each other in a number of different ways. For example, they can either call each other on their Skype IDs or chat through the built-in messaging service. Since its introduction, Skype has gained widespread popularity around the world and the user base of the software application is estimated to have reached a staggering 170 million.

Discussion

The internet has made the world a global village. As a result, numerous applications are easily available on the internet that connect people living in different countries and regions with each other. Businesses have seen tremendous potential in internet-based communications services and Skype can be a good option in this regard (Mills, 2007). Skype is a software that allows text communication, voice and video over Internet (VoIP). It was developed in 2003 by the Dane Janus Friis and Swede Niklas Zennström (Lobos, 1976). The Skype protocol code remains closed and proprietary but interested users can download for free the application executable on the official site. Skype allows users to can talk to each other freely. This application also includes a feature called SkypeOut which allows users to call on regular phones. It charges low rates that are based on the country of destination (Lobos, 1976). Skype users can call anywhere in the world.

Another feature of Skype is SkypeIn which gives a phone number for a person from a regular phone anywhere in the world so that he may contact the computer. Furthermore, it provides a voicemail service (Mills, 2007). The Skype interface is very similar to other instant messaging software applications like Windows Live Messenger or Yahoo! Messenger. The program also allows users to leave voice messages (mailbox) in case they are not available. However, this service is paid and comes bundled with SkypeIn (Hodson & Sullivan, 2008).

In September 2005, the company was bought by eBay for $ 2,600 million. However, in July 2009 older system developers sued eBay because licenses for Joltid had expired and eBay was infringing their rights to keep using them (Hodson & Sullivan, 2008). Finally, unable to replace the technology that was being infringed, eBay sold 70% of its stake in Skype to Silver Lake Partners, a group that includes Joltid (Lobos, 1976).

It aims to connect users via text (instant messaging), voice (VoIP) or video. One of its strengths is communication free voice and video between Skype users and from anywhere in the world. It also allows for special calls, at low cost, from network computers and fixed or mobile telephony (Harrington, 1992). Skype can be used in the following ways:

Free communication by text, voice or video between two Skype users with personal computers connected to the Internet (Requires registration and acceptance of the terms of service at no cost) (Hodson & Sullivan, 2008).

Communication group or conference free speech (video group is payment) among users of Skype, all with ...