How did Skype Make Such a Huge Name for Itself in the VoIP industry?

Skype is perhaps one of the most well-known VoIP services on the Internet—and is a completely different type of VoIP service.  It was started in 2003 by a team of entrepreneurs and software developers based in Estonia; 2 years later in 2005, eBay acquired Skype for 2.6 billion.  With offices all over the world, Skype has experienced rapid growth in popular usage since the launch of its services.  According to Skype’s website, “every day, millions use Skype to communicate for free through voice and video calls, as well as instant messages.  Many people also use Skype to call landline and mobiles with pay as you go Skype credit or a monthly subscription.  One of the initial names for the service was “Sky peer-to-peer”, which was then abbreviated to “Skyper.”  This name turned out to be taken, so the founders dropped the “r” and changed the name to “Skype.” 

So how did Skype skyrocket to the top?  It’s all about the free stuff, especially during this financial crisis.  If you and a friend are pinching pennies and want to speak, all you both have to do is download Skype; upon doing so, you are well on your way to free communication over the Internet.  You basically use Skype to turn your computer into an internet phone to make free Skype-to-Skype calls.  Appealing? The world seems to think so! According to Skype’s official website, their software has been downloaded over half a billion times and is used in almost every country on Earth.

Another feature that has given Skype a competitive edge is the ability to make completely free video and voice calls to other Skype accounts anywhere in the world.  As long as you and whoever you’re talking to have a computer with a microphone and speakers (a headset is recommended for optimum sound quality), your calls can have up to 25 people.  After you create your contact list, calling is easy.  You simply locate the person you want to call from your list and click their name.  To call your friend for free, you then simply click the green button.  This will start the call, allowing you to talk any time, from anywhere, for however long you want. 

Despite the fact that they cost money, the additional services users are required to pay for on Skype have also contributed to the company’s massive global popularity. Their service isn’t about simply making free and easy low cost calls to landlines and cell phones around the world; Skype users can also send text messages, forward your calls to your cell phone, or set up an online number for friends to call you on, using their old-fashioned phones.  All you need in order to do these things is Pay as you Go Skype Credit.  You can also choose to start a monthly subscription, choosing from one of the following three options:  Unlimited US and Canada for $2.95 per month, Unlimited Mexico for $5.95 per month, or Unlimited World for $9.95 per month. Both the US and Mexico plans offer unlimited calling to landlines and cell phones; however, note that the World plan only offers unlimited international calls to landlines in 36 countries.  Both small and large businesses certainly take advantage of Skype to communicate both domestically and internationally.  For more detailed information about Skype’s business plans, we encourage you to visit their website.