Skype

Skype is a software program created by the Swedish and Danish entrepreneurs Niklas Zennstrom and Janus Friis. Skype lets users make phone calls over the Internet to other Skype users for free, or cell phones in exchange for a fixed price. Additional features include instant messaging, file transfer, short message service, video conferencing and its ability to circumvent firewalls.

The Skype Group, acquired by eBay in September 2005, is headquartered in Luxembourg with offices in London, Tallinn, Tartu, Prague and San Jose, California. Skype experienced rapid growth in both popular usage and software development since the release of both their freedom and their payment services.