Who invented skype

Before hacking a bot or how to trick a bot, it is worth understanding what a "bot" is. In simple terms, a bot is an assistant program that will unquestioningly execute all commands given to it in Telegram. For example, he can offer a selection of interesting news to the user in the morning, and recommend a movie in the evening.

These little helpers use the same interfaces as regular users to perform data and similar functions.

The "language" of bots

Before you start hacking a bot, you first need to know what the client code looks like and what language it uses.

You might think that C # (si sharp), which is a very popular and modern programming language, was used to write the program. It gained popularity due to the autonomy of the program, great functionality and a small amount of RAM occupied.

But this is not so, for the computer version C ++ was used, for the android - Java. Also acceptable languages ​​for bots are:

• HTML;
• Python;
• JavaScript.

Payment in Telegram

Telegram is an intermediary in financial transactions. The client sends the necessary data with his credit card specifically to the payment system. Then the response of the payment system and all the necessary information are transmitted to the bot developer, after which he can process and complete the operation.

Here bots greatly simplify buying and selling for both parties. The buyer can from any corner of the world and at any time of the day purchase any product from the seller. And for the seller, there is an auto sale, since he does not need to constantly sit in the application and wait for buyers.

However, any disputed payments go to the responsibility of bot developers and payment system providers, since Telegram is not directly involved in financial transactions.

Hack the bot

Most of the programs that promise to hack a bot operate on the same system:

1. Download program.
2. Launch the downloaded application.
3. Act.

In most cases, a site that offers and assures that a "crack" can easily bypass the Telegram security system and deceive a bot is malicious, and it is strictly forbidden to download, let alone run the downloaded program, for the safety of your device.

In theory, such a program can be created entirely by studying the encryption protocol and spending a lot of time writing such an algorithm. However, it is impossible to find such a program in open forums.

Telegram sender

In fact, this program is a common spammer. The development team found a small way to bypass the protection, and created their own program. The program works easily:

1. Write some text.
2. Payment.
3. Get the result.

Scripts

Scripts in the Telegram application are used to automate any action or create a bot. You can easily download them from the official website of the developers.

You can also use scripts to deceive the bot in Telegram. After all, a bot is a program that works according to a certain given algorithm. So it is enough for a cracker to simply reproduce certain query algorithms, namely certain plugins that generate specially questions in such a way that the bot allows you to purchase a certain product for free.

It is difficult to imagine the modern world without Skype, but few people know when it appeared. This service allows you to exchange not only text messages, but also make voice and video calls. 2003 saw innovations that changed the digital world forever. Since its inception, there have been many incremental changes that improve the interface, so a user with basic skills can quickly get up to speed.

Historical excursion

Skype has free and paid versions, and therefore everyone will be able to choose the appropriate option. The developers were able to integrate Facebook with the messenger, and this saved more time. It is difficult to come up with a program that would be able to enjoy such huge popularity, and therefore the history of creation is important.

First stage

As soon as work begins in the messenger, users often have a desire to get answers to simple questions: "In what year and where did you come up with Skype?" Estonia is the country where they worked:

• Ahti Heinla;
• Priit Kazesalu;
• Jaan Tallinn.

They were able to create the KaZaA file sharing service, which was very popular at one time. The Scandinavians were able to be the first not only to invent, but also to implement the idea of ​​a program that allows you to maintain constant contact with family and friends, wherever they are. Janus Friis and Niklas Zennstrom were able to invent Skype, in the form in which it became known to the general public.

Then they came up with a simple but ingenious idea - to provide every user with constant access to the Internet the opportunity to have unlimited communication. The date of the first official release is August 29, 2003. The country of residence was no longer of fundamental importance, since it was possible to contact someone in just a few seconds and absolutely free. At some point, the program became not only in demand, but also one of the irreplaceable ones.

First profit

Without knowing who invented Skype, it's difficult to speculate about their true intentions as developers. The bright and memorable appearance of the messenger did not give any profit, and the efforts should not be in vain. When users were able to make direct calls to regular numbers using reduced prices, the first profits were not long in coming. Being one of the profitable projects is not an easy task, but skype has managed to withstand the competition with dignity. Wikipedia writes that after 2 years the company's capitalization amounted to about $ 35 million per quarter, and many interesting events begin with this.

In 2005 the largest auctioneBay began to belong to the messenger. It was difficult to predict the final result of such a deal, but everyone felt a great benefit in it. 2006 was marked by an increase in the company's revenue, which in monetary terms amounted to about $ 195 million. Who the idea of ​​total improvements in the program belongs to is a mystery, but we can talk about an impeccable strategy and plan. Ebay has been able to take Skype to the next level by constantly engaging active users.

A short-term coma in the development of the company comes in November 2009, when Ebay decides to sell a controlling stake (70% for $ 2.5 billion). Remarkably, the original founders were given board seats and 14% of the shares. They no longer pretended to be more and relieved themselves of legal responsibility.

Together with Microsoft

In 2011yearMicrosoft decided to make a valuable acquisition by exchanging $ 8.5 billion for a controlling stake in the companySkype. This deal turned out to be unprecedented in the amount of money spent. The company's management was hatching its plans, and therefore they painlessly parted with such a sum. The messenger is available in almost all countries, and even Russia, having such a long distance, has no problems.

Innovations

Today Skype can be downloaded on a wide variety of devices and platforms, ranging from Windows to Linux. New markets continue to expand, and this requires a certain amount of developer mobility.

The messenger was able to surpass the original ideas of the creators, since the original scheme was finalized and improved. Consumers were able not only to make calls to different countries, but also to conduct group sessions.

Thanks to Microsoft, the program has been able to reach its true potential and grow beyond simple calls. Each user is given a unique opportunity to exchange information and files in group chats. The creators are probably happy with the results of their work.

What is Skype? What is Skype and how to use it? Skype is one of the most popular communication programs on the Internet. https: // site / ip-telefoniya / chto-takoe-skaip https: //site/@@site-logo/logo.png

What is Skype? What is Skype and how to use it?

Skype is one of the most popular communication programs on the Internet.

What is Skype and how to use it?

Skype(read Skype) is a simple computer program (already Russified), thanks to which you can call other Skype subscribers all over the world for free. Those. provides free encrypted voice and video communication over the Internet between computers (VoIP), as well as paid services for communication with subscribers of a regular and mobile telephone network. It is possible to organize conference calls (up to 25 subscribers, including the initiator), send text messages, files, show your desktop, as well as video communication (currently, when using a standard client, up to two subscribers, and when using third-party plug-ins their number is limited only by the bandwidth of the channel).

What is Skype? Skype is a multitude of ways to communicate:

In Skype, you will find many useful functions, thanks to which you will always be in touch with friends, family and colleagues, you will be able to share your thoughts and receive the necessary information.

Skype can be used on both your computer and your mobile phone, so you can stay connected even on the road without changing your plans. Skype works on many mobile phones and devices such as the PlayStation® Portable (PSP®). In addition, there is a huge selection of WiFi phones and cordless phones with built-in Skype.

To get started, try sending instant messages to someone from your contact list, or open a group chat where several people can communicate at once. You can set up a conference call to discuss an upcoming meeting with friends, and then use the search for business reviews ™ feature to find a great venue.

Plus, great video calling options are at your service. All you need is a webcam, which will allow you not only to use free video calls, but also to take pictures of yourself, so that you can later use these photos in Skype.

Skype is not designed to make emergency calls

Skype is not a replacement for a regular telephone and cannot be used for emergency calls

Find friends on Skype

If you use Microsoft Outlook®, Outlook Express® or Yahoo! email, you can import data from these applications into your Skype notebook. If your friends don't have Skype yet, you can send them an invitation to download Skype, and then you can chat for free. Do not be surprised if they send you a bouquet of flowers and a chocolate bar: these are your grateful friends. And you deserve it.

Do you know any other MySpace users? Convince them to download Skype or MySpaceIM from Skype. Then add them to your Skype notebook and your social circle will expand significantly. Just find the name of the person you want on MySpaceIM.

Adding a new friend to your notebook is easy. In addition, you can add contacts to Skype who do not yet have Skype, and call them on landlines and mobile phones at low rates anywhere in the world.

If your Microsoft Outlook® address book contains phone numbers, they will be shown in your contact list and you can easily dial them directly into Skype. To call landlines or mobile phones, you need Skype Credit or a monthly subscription.

How to use Skype at work?

Are you a self-employed person? Or an employee of a multinational holding company? No matter how modest or, on the contrary, impressive, your staff may be, thanks to Skype, you can save time and money and, most importantly, always stay one step ahead of the competition.

Skype enables businesses to find their own unique way of working, no matter what goals they set for themselves and where their employees are located.
Voice communication, chat, video conferencing and even calls and sending SMS to mobile phones - you choose how best to convey information to your colleagues and clients. Whatever your business, download the business version of Skype and take the first step towards minimizing costs and increasing profitability.
And if stopping there is not part of your plans, especially for you - Skype Manager, a system for centralized management of Skype usage throughout the enterprise.

Skype Manager simplifies and streamlines the exchange of business information. With just one simple online tool, you can connect colleagues to your network, give them access to the Skype functionality they need, while saving money with our very competitive rates.

Where does Skype work?

Skype works on the following operating systems Mac OS X, GNU / Linux, Windows, Windows Phone, iPhone, Windows Mobile, Google Android, PSP, Symbian.

Skype works on TV. Free big-screen video calling right in your living room is possible thanks to the latest developments from companies such as LG, Panasonic and Samsung: the latest TVs from these manufacturers are designed to work with Skype in high-definition mode.

Where can I download Skype?

Just follow the link for your operating system:

How do I pay for Skype services?

You can deposit money to your Skype account using Diners, MasterCard or Visa... Using the payment system Moneybookers allows you to use your credit and debit card or bank account to securely purchase Skype products. You can also pay for purchases in Skype through the system WebMoney... SkypeOut services can also be paid through Yandex money... Thanks to the company PayByCash You can pay for purchases on Skype using the payment tools used in your country, so you can do without a credit card.

When and by whom was Skype created?

Skype was created by Niklas Zennström and Janus Friis.

The first Skype appeared in September 2003.

In October 2005, the company was bought by eBay for approximately $ 2.6 billion (an additional $ 500 million was later paid), although the company's annual turnover was less than $ 100 million. In April 2009, eBay executives announced that the first Skype will be publicly traded in half of 2010, as the company's activities do not fit well with the online auction business.

The company is headquartered in Luxembourg with branches in London, Prague, San Jose and Tallinn.

Developments

2003

• Foundation of the company

• The company was bought by eBay for $ 2.7 billion

• March: Skype 3.1 released, new features added, including Skype Find and Skype Prime. Skype 3.2 beta has also become available with new features that allow you to send money via PayPal to other users.
• August: Skype 3.5 for Windows was released, now there is support for video in the profile, as well as the ability to insert video into the chat; transfer of a call to another user or group; autorepeat a call.
• August 15: Skype 2.7.0.49 (beta) for Mac OS.
• August 16-17: "Black Tuesday", as a result of an outage, Skype did not work for more than a day.

• January 30: Skype releases a version for Sony PSP.
• March 13: Skype 2.0 for Linux released with video conferencing support.
• July 9: Skype 4.0 Beta released, the fourth version has a new program interface.
• September 1: Skype closes SkypeCast's.
• September 12: the unlimited tariff Unlimited Europe for $ 5.95 now, in addition to calls to landline telephones of the 21st European country, includes the cities of Russia - St. Petersburg and Moscow.
• December 26: Skype releases version 1.0.0 for Nokia Nst-4 in system-pack v1.0.0

• February 3: Skype 4.0 released (Windows).
• March 31: Skype has released a version for the Apple iPhone.
• May 12: Skype ended conferencing support.
• September 1: eBay announced it has sold 65% of Skype to Andreessen Horowitz for $ 2 billion.
• November 9: Skype releases toolbar for MS Outlook

• January 19: Skype is another client of the Russian company SPIRIT in the field of IP-telephony. Sound transmission quality has improved significantly.
• February 19: Skype ends support for Skype Lite (Skype for Java Phones) and Skype for Windows Mobile.
• April 31: Skype has released a version for Apple iPad.
• August 9: Skype filed for the first share issue. During the placement of shares, the company plans to receive $ 100 million.
• September 2: Skype adds support for offline chat messages.
• October 5: Full-fledged Skype for Android client released.
• October 14: Skype 5.0 (Windows) released, the fifth version has a new program interface and added the ability to make group video calls.
• December 22-23: Skype crashes worldwide.
• December 23 18:20 Moscow time: Skype was restored.

2012

In the release of the program dated January 10, 2013, integration with the Outlook mail client has been implemented.

On January 29, 2013, Microsoft ended support for Windows Live Messenger, completely switching to the development of Skype.

The Windows 8 version, dated February 22, 2013, adds the file sharing feature that allows users to exchange documents using instant messaging.

Released on February 27, 2013, version 3.2 for the Android platform has been adapted for 7-inch tablets.

On April 7, 2014 Microsoft announced the creation of Skype TX - a special solution based on Skype for TV and radio stations. From April 29, 2014, group video conferencing became free. In September 2014, support for phones with Symbian platform was discontinued.

What is Skype technology?

Unlike many other IP telephony programs, Skype uses a P2P architecture to transfer data. The Skype user directory is distributed across the computers of Skype network users, which allows the network to easily scale to very large sizes (currently over 100 million users, 10-15 million online) without the expensive infrastructure of centralized servers. In addition, Skype can route calls through other users' computers. This allows users behind a NAT or firewall to connect to each other, but creates an additional load on the computers and channels of users who are directly connected to the Internet.

The only centerpiece for Skype is the identity server, which stores user accounts and backups of their contact lists. The central server is only needed to establish communication. After the connection is established, the computers send voice data directly to each other (if there is a direct connection between them), or through the Skype Intermediary (supernode - a computer that has an external IP address and an open TCP port for Skype). In particular, if two computers located within the same local network have established a Skype connection between themselves, then the connection to the Internet can be interrupted, and the conversation will continue until the end of the conversation by users or some kind of communication failure within the local network.

Thanks to the codecs used by Skype (data compression algorithms) SVOPC (16 kHz), AMR-WB (16 kHz), G.729 (8 kHz) and G.711 (previously ILBC and ISAC were also used) and with sufficient Internet connection speed ( 30-60 kbps) in most cases, the sound quality is higher than that of a regular telephone connection.

When a connection is established between PCs, data is encrypted using AES-256, which, in turn, is transmitted using a 1024-bit RSA key.

Skype VoIP is closed and used only by original Skype software. Using the API, its functions can be accessed by third-party programs.

No cases of decryption and / or interception of data in Skype officially confirmed by the developer have been recorded.

For stable use of video communication, an Internet connection speed of 200 kbps is required and a processor clock frequency of 1 GHz or more is desirable.

What is Skype history?

The first versions (versions 0.97, 0.98) of the program appeared in September-October 2003. The program simultaneously supported 10 languages ​​and had a simple, logical interface, originally adapted (unlike ICQ and MS-Messenger) for voice communication. During installation, Skype itself chose the localization language for Windows and had login registration easier and faster than in competing programs. It was the ease of installation, mastering and use of the program that quickly attracted the attention of a large number of users. In version 1.2, an answering machine (Voicemail) appeared for the first time, and since 1.3, any owner of it could leave messages to other users, even if they did not use this service. In 1.2, the SkypeIn function also appeared, which allows you to associate a Skype account with a phone number.

Starting with version 1.4, it became possible to redirect calls to other Skype accounts, as well as to regular phones.

In version 2.0, for the first time, there was the possibility of video communication, and in 2.5 - the ability to send SMS, organize Skypecasts (this technology has been officially disabled since September 1, 2008) and integration with Microsoft Outlook.

In version 3 there was a service (SkypeFind) that allows users to create a list of companies and give a description to them. It is now heavily filled with spam.

Skype 3.5, version for Nokia Nst-4 Skype client can be installed on a compatible phone or PDA, which results in significant cost savings due to low system tariffs. However, cellular operators do not want to lose super-profits and in every possible way slow down the process. T-Mobile, the largest cellular provider in Germany, has said it will block Skype Internet telephony traffic on iPhones. It comes to the point that the lobby of mobile operators is trying to ban Skype, and at the same time ICQ, on the territory of Russia.

What are skype services? What is Skype Paid Services?

Skype Out rates as of March 2006 in US dollars per minute SkypeOut Allows you to make outgoing calls to landlines and mobile phones in most countries of the world. Payment is per minute, differentiated. Calls to toll-free numbers (such as +1 800 in the US) are free and can be used even by non-SkypeOut users. Also, through Skype Out, incoming Skype calls are made to the phone with the Skype Lite mobile application. Your balance will expire 180 days after the last Skype Out call. SkypeIn Allows you to receive phone calls from users of traditional telephone networks. In this case, the participant receives a phone number in one of the following countries: Australia, Brazil, Germany, Denmark, Poland, Sweden, Switzerland, Finland, Estonia, France, Great Britain, USA, Japan and Hong Kong (China). All incoming calls to this number will be sent to your Skype account, and with a positive score, calls can be forwarded to any phone number. As a bonus to the phone number, Skype provides an answering machine free of charge for the entire duration of the number. Skype Voicemail Free services Main article: Skypecast Screenshot of the Skype program with participation in Skypecast SkypeCast (from English. ... Outwardly, it is similar to a conference call, however, unlike it, it is installed through a central server, as a result of which it does not impose high requirements on the bandwidth of the user who initiated the conversation.

What are Skype gadgets and goods?

Skype makes and sells a variety of products for the Skype program. For example, the RTX Dualphone 3088 cordless phone for making calls without a computer. The phone allows you to make and receive calls both via Skype and on the regular telephone network without a computer. Also, Skype releases Freetalk Wireless headsets - wireless headphones with a USB transmitter for wireless communication via Skype, video calls (Freetalk Buddy Pack) and webcams (Freetalk Connect 2).

Attempts to ban Skype

The Commission on Telecommunications and Information Technologies of the Russian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs (RSPP) is preparing recommendations to ban Skype in Russia. The interests of the RSPP members are clear: thanks to the presence of Skype, millions of Internet users in Russia have the opportunity to bypass the existing high tariffs for international telephone communications. In addition, the initiators of the ban and the FSB argue that Skype is difficult to eavesdrop on due to its lack of connection to SORM.

In Belarus, all calls over the network must go through a state operator, and the use of other international networks, including Skype, is considered a violation of the law.

Deutsche Telekom, the largest European telecommunications company, has said it will block Skype when attempting to use it with an iPhone.

Access to Skype can be blocked by hardware. Verso Technologies and Cisco Systems have similar solutions. In particular, they are used by China Telecom, the largest Chinese provider. Similarly, Skype is blocked in the UAE.

In response to attempts to ban Skype, its developers began to implement traffic masking tools into the program to bypass VoIP blocking. In addition, Skype can work with proxies, VPN and Tor, which practically negates the effectiveness of its blocking.

Number of Skype users.

Year (end of year) Registered users Online users
2005 74 million 10.8 million

Comparison of Skype with other programs

Call via the Internet to a regular cell or landline phone? Easily. Connect with another user on the network through direct audio-visual contact? Even easier! VoIP and softphones are rapidly conquering markets around the world, and at the forefront of this "attack" is a program whose name is well known to everyone - Skype. That's what we'll talk about today.

Before Skype, or an excursion into history

Many more science fiction writers of the 19th-20th centuries predicted that sooner or later mankind will invent a kind of videophone, thanks to which the interlocutor can not only be heard, but also seen. Some especially gifted personalities (Tesla, for example) started talking about this even at a time when an ordinary telephone was a novelty.

In fact, humanity coped with the invention of such a contraption sooner rather than later. Judge for yourself: 15 years ago it was difficult to imagine that very soon we would have compact and powerful cell phones at our disposal, from which you can easily make a video call to any part of the world (that you can also simply go online, listen to music, read, watch a movie, and so on, and there is nothing to say).

It should be noted that attempts to invent a videophone as an independent device is a topic worthy of a separate story. For example, back in 1964, AT&T managed to install the first public videophone booths in New York, Washington, and Chicago. The devices bearing the name Picturephone Mod I were also installed with fanfare at the headquarters of large companies. It was planned that the innovation will be a resounding success, and then there will be universal recognition. By the way, the devices used 3 pairs of telephone wires: one for sound transmission and two (with a 1 MHz bandwidth) for video transmission in each direction. The image was refreshed every 2 seconds. An additional PBX was used for video switching. But the public did not appreciate all these efforts - a call from New York to Washington cost $ 16 in 3 minutes, and to Chicago - $ 27, which scared off even the most notorious geeks of the time. As a result, the booths were dismantled already in 1968.

However, we are distracted. Our today's story will not be about video payphones at all, but about the idea of ​​voice and image transmission over the Web, which appeared almost before the invention of the computer networks themselves.

Paradoxical as it may sound, until a certain period of time, telephone networks and data transmission networks existed independently of each other. The fact is that the technology and channels of those years simply could not cope with both at the same time. Scientists have struggled to resolve this problem since the 60s, but the first noticeable progress was only outlined in the 80s, when ISDN (Integrated Services Digital Network) was created - a network that supported services for the transmission of voice, data, video and text. But those were only the first steps, and the real results and the actual "birthday" of Voice over IP (VoIP) and video conferencing took place already in the 90s.
The first swallow to break the dam of "network silence" was the Internet Phone program, created by the Israelis from the VocalTec company. Internet Phone was released in early 1995 and, in fact, was a banal IM + softphone with which you could voice calls to other PCs. But what seems trivial now, then evoked emotions like “omigod, it" s magic !! 11. And this despite the fact that this miracle worked in half-duplex mode, that is, unilaterally, as when talking on a walkie-talkie ( which is not surprising - the founders of VocalTec got the idea of ​​the program while serving in the army, looking at packet voice radio).

Neither the above, nor the fact that the quality of communication usually left much to be desired, could not get in the way of progress - in a few weeks Internet Phone was downloaded by thousands of people and immediately began to actively use it. It was this that served as a go-ahead - it became obvious that the interest of the public is great, and the prospects for Internet telephony are enormous. The market was immediately flooded with all sorts of clones of the Israeli program, and by the end of 1995, the DigiPhone software appeared on sale, which made it possible to listen and speak at the same time.

In the meantime, in the camp of software for transmitting video over the Web, things were also not bad. At the beginning of the same 90s, craftsmen from Cornell University wrote the CU-SeeMe program, which was originally intended for Macs, and then released under Windows. By the way, it was with the help of CU-SeeMe in 1994 during the flight of NASA's Endeavor shuttle transmitted his image to Earth.

Interest in VoIP technology, that is, in the transmission of a speech signal over the Internet or other IP-networks, grew rapidly, and already in 1996 issues of standardization and adoption of regulations were ripe. The International Telecommunication Union, an international organization that defines recommendations in the field of telecommunications and radio, as well as regulates the international use of radio frequencies, adopted recommendations for the H.323 standard, which was based on almost 50 other standards. Thus, the first standard was adopted for multimedia communication using packet-oriented networks that do not guarantee quality of service. At the same time, the open international community of designers, scientists, network operators and Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) providers, which is developing the protocols and architecture of the Internet, developed the Realtime Transport Protocol (RTP), which was used in H.323.

Further development of VoIP proceeded as follows:

• 1996 was also marked by the conclusion of an agreement between VocalTec and the giant Dialogic. The goal of their joint project was to create the first specialized telephone gateway for IP telephony, called the VocalTec Telephone Gateway (VTG).
• 1997 gave the world the opportunity to make calls not only from PC to PC, but also from PC to phone and vice versa, as well as from phone to phone.
• 1999 was marked by the first specification of the open standard SIP (Session Initiation Protocols), which was developed by the guys from the IETF since 1996, and which will be discussed below. H.323 has a competitor, which, as time will show, will very quickly deal with its predecessor.

This is how imperceptibly the matter approached the new millennium, and hence the creation of Skype.

Skype

Skype is owned by European progers, namely the Estonians Ahti Heinla, Priit Kasesalu and Jaan Tallinn. These names may surprise someone, because in recent years completely different people are often called the creators of Skype - the Danish Janus Friis and the Swede Niklas Zennstrom. The thing is, both the first and the second are true.
It is possible that the names of the three Estonian developers not only caused surprise, but also seemed vaguely familiar to some readers. If you seem, we hasten to please - you have an excellent memory. The fact is that in the early 2000s, these guys were developing the unforgettable P2P file-sharing network KaZaA, thanks to which they gained fame. Work on Skype, which gentlemen IT-journalists unfairly credit Friis and Zennström, respectively, was after.

"Who are Zennstrom and Friis?" - you ask. Of course, they also appeared in this story for a reason - this couple was directly related to the development and development of both projects (both KaZaA and Skype), and some of their "feats" literally eclipsed the rest of the team. Nevertheless, to call them "the creators of Skype" is a strong exaggeration, since these two are primarily businessmen and investors, but not developers. We will tell you more about Friis, Zennstrem and their role in Skype below, but for now let's get back to the program itself.

Active work on Skype began in 2002 after substantial investments from Draper Investment Company, and the software was released quite quickly: the domain names Skype.com and Skype.net were registered in April, and the public saw the first beta release of the program already in August 2003. By the way, a random interesting fact - during the development the program was named Skyper (short for “Sky peer-to-peer”), and only closer to the completion of the work it was renamed to Skype, because the domain name Skyper was already taken.

So, what set Skype apart from many other similar programs, which were released at that time a little more than a fig? Unlike other software designed for IP telephony, Skype used and still uses P2P architecture for its work, which is not at all surprising if you recall the track record of its creators. In fact, this is one of its main advantages: all voice traffic goes through the network nodes, which are the users themselves (and the more users use the system, the better it works). Skype is also able to route calls through computers of other users, which allows users located behind NAT or a firewall to connect to each other (creating an increased load on the channels of other users).

By the time Skype entered the IP telephony market, almost all of this market was occupied by software and hardware operating on the basis of the SIP standard, which it was time to talk about in more detail.

Unlike the secret Skype protocol, SIP is completely open to developers, well thought out and easy to implement in hardware. The SIP protocol was taken as a model for SIP - HTTP messages, like HTTP requests, are transmitted over the Internet in text form, and their formats overlap. This greatly simplifies the development and debugging of programs that support SIP, and, most likely, contributed to its rise in popularity. Like Skype, SIP does not have a centralized server - there are many servers; in fact, anyone can acquire one, and they all interact with each other. The tasks of the protocol include only the installation and coordination of communication, while it is not at all necessary that this communication be voice - it can be any other data stream (video, multimedia, interactive service).

SIP is focused on working in local networks and good Internet channels.

Skype is the complete opposite of SIP, although some data indicate that the Skype protocol is based on modified SIP. Be that as it may, the differences are more than enough: Skype is a closed protocol, and due to its P2P structure it uses forced encryption (data is encrypted using AES-256, for which key, in turn, a 1024-bit RSA key is used Users' public keys are certified by the central Skype server upon login using 1536- or 2048-bit RSA certificates), and SIP is much better suited to extreme conditions. The phrase “I’m at the door, and he is in the window” most accurately reflects the behavior of Skype - close the usual UDP port range for it, and it will switch to free TCP ports, and if it squeezes completely, Skype is always ready to use an HTTP proxy. Some experts argue that the only way to completely block Skype is to analyze the content of all packets that Skype, let's not forget, encrypts. The program bypasses simpler methods.

All of the above has been seriously straining the special services of almost all countries of the world for many years - how is it that something cannot be intercepted and deciphered, this is definitely a mess! However, Switzerland, Australia, Austria, Germany and Russia have already hinted that they still have solutions for listening to Skype in their arsenal.

Skype is criticized by many security experts and even hackers. Back in 2007, in the 100th issue] [Chris Kaspersky devoted a detailed article to this issue, entitled "Skype: The Hidden Threat". In the article, Chris writes the following: “Skype is a black box with a multi-level encryption system, stuffed with anti-debugging techniques of an executable file, reading confidential information from a computer and transmitting it to the Network using a proprietary protocol. The latter bypasses firewalls and severely masks its traffic, preventing it from blocking. All this makes Skype an ideal carrier of viruses, worms and drones, creating their own distributed networks within the Skype network. "

But Skype managed to conquer a wide audience not due to encryption and resourcefulness, but due to two very important things: simplicity and excellent sound quality.

Starting with the very first version, released in the fall of 2003, Skype supported 10 languages ​​and had the most simple interface, unlike other IM, initially sharpened specifically for voice communication. It also played a role that the entire procedure for installing the program and registering a new user was many times easier than that of competitors. As for codecs, Skype uses SVOPC (16 kHz), AMR-WB (16 kHz), G.729 (8 kHz) and G.711 (previously ILBC and ISAC were also used), which, given a sufficient connection speed (30-60 kbps) / s) allows you to get sound comparable in quality to a regular telephone connection.

Having taken right off the bat in 2003, Skype never stopped developing. With each new version, more and more new functions and "conveniences" have appeared. It makes no sense to list all these autoresponders, online numbers, conferences, services for sending SMS and so on, since the article is still not called "Skype services for dummies" :). Instead, I would like to note something else - the company has steadily developed, despite the fact that in 2005 Friis and Zennstrom sold their brainchild, which had already gained immense popularity (74.7 million accounts and an average of 10.8 million users on the network). eBay for the breakneck of billions of dead presidents. The fact that this did not affect the development of Skype in the worst way is clearly indicated by numbers and facts:

• Today, more than 560 million accounts are read on Skype;
• There are versions of Skype for almost all platforms known to mankind, including mobile;
• The company provides a full range of VoIP services;
• Skype produces and sells various gadgets from headsets and webcams to full-fledged Skype-backgrounds - phones that can work both with a regular telephone network and with Skype.

We shared an orange, or patent trolling

Now, after covering all sorts of technological aspects of Skype's work, we can talk about more funny things - for dessert we have the most real "scandals, intrigues, investigations".

As promised, let's return to the personalities of Niklas Zennström and Janus Friis and take a closer look at them. Zennstrom is a Uppsala University graduate with a BA in Business Administration and an MA in Physics. Friis, on the other hand, cannot boast of a "tower", since at one time he dropped out of school and went to work in the technical support of a local provider.
It so happened that at the very beginning of their life and career, these two got a job at the Swedish telecommunications company Tele2, where in 1996 they were brought together by fate.

Having worked side by side for several years, Zennstrom and Friis sang so well that already in 2000 they decided to quit and start their own business, which became the file-sharing network KaZaA. In fact, Friis and Zennstrom moved to Amsterdam to develop it, hired a team of programmers, while they themselves preferred to remain in leadership positions.

However, there was an incident with "Kaza" - the brainchild of Friis and Zennstrem did not have time to gain momentum, as active persecutions began on the peer-to-peer networks. It was then that the legendary Napster closed, and, as you know, a holy place is never empty - all illegal content flowed to other networks, one of which was KaZaA. The copyrists immediately began to besiege our would-be businessmen, wanting to drown them in lawsuits, and this state of affairs was not at all to the liking of the newly minted startups. Zennstrom and Friis were forced to classify the location of the company's offices and literally go on the run, hiding from the summons that poured in like a cornucopia.

When it finally became clear that the saying “time heals” does not apply to this situation, and it only gets worse, it was decided to get rid of KaZaA. An odd deal was made in which KaZaA was taken over by the Australian company Sharman Networks, registered in the Pacific island of Vanuatu. However, something was not included in this deal then, something very important - the rights and patents for the peer-to-peer technology that was used in KaZaA. These rights remained in the hands of Zennstrom and Friis, or rather their new company Joltid, registered in general in the British Virgin Islands.

You probably already understand that all these details are given here for a reason. The fact is that later it was this technology that was used to create Skype.

By the way, if we talk about the role of Friis and Zennsterm in the creation of Skype, then everything was already familiar to us - hired programmers (the same Estonians who pored over KaZaA) and two inseparable startups as founders of the project. Although, in fairness, it should be noted here that Zennstrom was loyal to Skype and remained as CEO until 2007, that is, for two more years after the sale of the company to eBay.

So eBay. As mentioned above, in 2005, just two years after the creation of Skype, it was sold to eBay for a fabulous amount of $ 2.6 billion, plus another 1.5 billion in a few years if Skype's financial performance is good (this was the largest the acquisition of eBay throughout the history of the auction). Both Friis and Zennstrom then became billionaires overnight and, it would seem, could easily enjoy life, start and promote other projects, invest and just spend those billions. But it was not there.

Having waited four long years after the transaction and having managed to launch the startup Joost during this time, the calculating couple decided that it would be enough to watch the development of Skype from the outside. And the development, by the way, was obvious: the number of users grew from 53 to more than 400 million, international traffic of Skype in 2008 amounted to a record 33 billion minutes, but all this did not bring the coveted money eBay. And since the profits from Skype were much more modest amounts than originally planned, in 2009 the largest auction on the planet decided to get rid of the acquisition, stating that it intends to once again spin Skype into a separate company and put its shares on the stock exchange. This message caused Friis and Zennstrom to suddenly activate.

Few initially understood why eBay bought Skype at all (official statements sounded too unconvincing: “for the convenience of communication between auction users”), but it was only in 2009 that the whole comic of the situation reached the general public. It turned out that by acquiring Skype itself, eBay managed to leave the rights and patents for the ever-memorable core technology in the hands of its previous owners. Yes, Friis and Zennstrom represented by Joltid. And the owners, having learned about the upcoming listing of Skype on the exchange, developed a vigorous activity, starting to return the sold back. So, the New York Times newspaper, for example, leaked a rumor that the former owners of Skype have already managed to spend their billions and are now forced to communicate with private investors, trying to find the missing part of the amount to complete the "reverse" transaction.

Moreover, smart businessmen immediately fired a “warning shot” - since eBay had been working with Joltid all this time under a license, Friis and Zennstrom filed a lawsuit, intending to revoke this license in the UK. To start.

Mutual blackmail and attacks towards each other lasted almost six months. During this time, eBay, as if in response to the offer of Zennstrom and Friis to redeem their offspring, managed to sell 65% of Skype shares to the Andreessen Horowitz group of investors for $ 2 billion. Resourceful businessmen immediately filed a lawsuit again, now against the new owners of Skype, accusing them of patent infringement and demanding $ 75 million for every day of the “illegal” operation of the service. The auction, which Friis and Zennstrom also didn’t leave alone (after all, eBay still had 35% of the shares!), Filed a counter-legal action against Joltid with the aim of banning the company from using the technology underlying Skype. Realizing that the process would probably not be won, representatives of eBay, just in case, declared their willingness to rewrite Skype from scratch, if necessary.

The end of all this circus came quite recently, in November 2009. Surprisingly, the situation was resolved by the world. eBay, which had previously flatly refused to pay anything to the ex-Skype owners, eventually agreed to the deal. Zennstrom and Friis did not remain in the slip, they not only got seats on the board of directors again, but also snatched 14% of Skype's shares. The whole point of the situation is that they did not have to fork out - eBay agreed to their terms in exchange for waiving claims and licensing their intellectual property.

We will, of course, never know what Zennstrom and Friis's original plan was, or if it even existed. It is possible that they envisioned the "return to Skype" somewhat differently, so to speak, in a more rosy light. Perhaps Joltid was up his sleeve for a better case, and eBay's decision to get rid of Skype spurred things. On the other hand, it may turn out that Friis and Zennstrom did not plan anything criminal at all, although it is very difficult to believe that the rights to the key technology remained with them "by accident", and the Joltid company was opened offshore by pure chance.

After the above, it will be reasonable to ask the question: "What will happen to Skype next?" No, no, yes, they will try to ban the softphone in some country or sue the company (recently, telecommunications and cellular operators in a number of countries, including Russia, have been looking at Skype very badly). However, this is due not so much to Skype itself as to VoIP telephony in general - in the last OPSoS and Co, due to paranoia, they often see a competitor, pest and enemy number one.

Perhaps, regarding the future of Skype, the following can be said for sure: one of the most popular and successful VoIP services, which is used by several hundred million people, cannot just disappear in the air, no matter what happens. And if the founding fathers of this software also include two such cunning and persistent types as Niklas Zennstrom and Janus Friis, Skype will not only not disappear, but, most likely, will find better ways to monetize and increase profits.

Communication is one of the main components of our life. The development of technology has pushed handwritten letters into the background, giving the palm to IT tools. The latter include mobile communications and the Internet. With their help, you can freely communicate, being hundreds of thousands of kilometers from each other. Now we do not run to the mailbox - we are rushing as fast as we can to the computer when a Skype call starts ringing in it melodiously and loudly.

The Leading Communication Utility

It is no exaggeration to say that this program is a kind of symbol of freedom on the Internet. Many users of this utility are seriously interested in how Skype was created and who was its founder? There are many opinions on this issue. And most of them are false. Interestingly, many Danes and Swedes declare with absolute certainty that Skype developers are their compatriots. However, this is not entirely true. This article tells about who actually came up with Skype and how this utility has won worldwide recognition.

Estonian roots

Everyone probably knows a small beautiful European country whose name automatically brings a smile - Estonia. For some reason, the population of the former Soviet Union associates this state exclusively with the slowness and sluggishness of its citizens. Imagine the surprise of many when the fact becomes known that the creation of Skype is the work of Estonian guys. Agree, it's incredible that this slow-moving country is home to one of the fastest communication programs on the Internet. This fact contains a seemingly hidden allusion to an absolutely false idea of ​​the temperament and character of Estonians.

The origin and development of the utility

The history of Skype began in 2003. It was then, about 11 years ago, that the Estonian guys Ahti Heinla, Priit Kasesalu and Jan Tallinn developed the initial code, which became the foundation of the future program. At that time, they were also working on a utility for exchanging files between Internet users. This program is called KaZaa. Together with Estonian young people, the founders of the described file sharing service also worked on this project: the Danish Janus Friis and the Swede Nicholas Zenstorm. In the process of work, not even the slow guys at all designed the code, which became the basis for the future interactive program.

In parallel with the creation of Skype, programmers studied the requirements and wishes of users of the World Wide Web. It became clear that people no longer had enough simple chat. Therefore, the team of creators decided to endow the utility with all possible functions that will facilitate not only written communication, but also video communication, as well as the exchange of various data.

Choosing a name

The original name for the utility was the expression "Sky peer-to-peer", which means "Through the sky with each other." The team then opted for an abbreviated version of "Skyper". However, in the process of registering domains within the World Wide Web, it was discovered that this name was already taken on many resources. As a result, young people "threw away" the last letter "r" from the name and opted for a simple and laconic "Skype". This name selection process took several months. The final decision was made in April 2003. The result was the successful registration of domains with the names Skype.net and Skype.com.

Full version and growing popularity

In August of the same year, an official program entered the open Internet access, which had almost all the functionality planned by the developers. A so-called beta version has been released on the net in order to obtain detailed information on errors and malfunctions. While creating Skype, the programmers decided in the future, as far as possible, to introduce into their "brainchild" the functions that consumers want to see. It is thanks to the beta version that the developers have collected enough information about the tastes and preferences of users, which allowed them to create a fast utility equipped with various modes.

The first full version became available to users in the fall of 2003. It is noteworthy that for several months the number of users of this program has grown hundreds of thousands of times. A huge number of people thanked those talented programmers who came up with Skype.

Utility advantages

How did this program attract users?

For starters, it's free to use. The minimum and necessary set of functions for communication is available completely free of charge. It is noteworthy that among them the leading position is taken by video communication. For many people living hundreds of thousands of kilometers from each other, this mode is an excellent opportunity to be closer to each other.

The second point is quick registration. In order to become a member of the large "Skype family", it is enough to enter the address of your mailbox in the field, select a nickname and password. And that's all. Now you can enjoy.

This utility also has a convenient and intuitive interface. With a well-designed toolbar, you can easily switch modes, change tabs and customize the program. The fourth point is a convenient and quick search for an interlocutor. It is enough to go to the "Contacts" tab and click "Add contact". We enter a name for the search and in the window that appears, select the one we need. The request to add to the contact list will be sent at the same time.

Of course, a huge advantage of Skype over other communication programs is the presence of a large number of different functions. The first and most common (as with all similar and similar utilities) is the ability to send and receive simple text messages. The presence of video calls has made Skype the leading application for contacting distant interlocutors. In addition, using the program, you can share various files: send photos, documents, music, videos, and more.

The first problem

Two years after the release of the program, the first unpleasant event for the developers took place. Trying to familiarize the Chinese population with the new mobile version of the utility, the team of young programmers received serious resistance from the local telecom companies. The reason for this was the fear of Asian corporations to lose control over the conquered market segments. Only a few Chinese companies have made concessions and agreed to add SkypeOut to their mobile phones.

Sale and return

The rapid growth in popularity attracted the attention of large companies to this program. In 2005, the developers sold their "brainchild". The buyer was eBay, which offered $ 2.6 billion for the interactive utility. After a while, the corporation, known all over the world for its online auctions and the PayPal payment system, paid bonus payments to the developers of the program, increasing the cost of Skype by 500 million. The history of the creation and modernization of the utility includes one more owner. In 2011, eBay sold the rights to the program back to the developers and their attracted investor, Microsoft. The deal was worth $ 8.5 billion.

At the moment, this is the full version of the story that the developers have a lot to come. Programmers face a huge number of plans. We can only look forward to new and more improved versions of the Skype interactive communication program.

Skype in the modern world is the number one service for making voice and video calls. Since its inception in 2003, the messenger has been gradually improving its interface to the point where anyone with basic skills can master it quickly.

It has free and paid versions. The latest version allows users to integrate their Skype and Facebook contacts. Such popularity of the messenger draws special attention to the history of its creation.

The first steps

The first question of any user who has been using the program for years and decided to inquire about its history is "Who invented Skype?" The original founders of Skype were the Scandinavians Janus Friis and Niklas Zennstrom, from Denmark and Sweden, respectively. Nevertheless, there were three software developers - Estonians Ahti Heinla, Priit Kazesalu and Jaan Tallinn, who created the previously famous file hosting service KaZaA.

These guys came up with a great idea - to give any user with an Internet connection the ability to communicate and talk with any other subscriber. But that's not all, it would all be completely free.

On August 29, 2003, the developers released the first official release of the application, which instantly attracted the attention of thousands of users.

This was something amazing, especially for people from less developed countries where other means of communication were expensive, limited or completely impossible. People very quickly started using Skype as a method of making free calls anywhere in the world. In the blink of an eye, the application became in demand all over the world.

The first earnings of the founders

After such a rapid popularity and demand, the creators had to think that it was time for their product to generate income. They decided to start providing paid services - direct calls to regular phones from Skype and vice versa.

Moreover, they made it possible to make such calls at really reduced prices, many times lower than ordinary landline or mobile calls.

In 2005, the messenger was actively used by more than 70 million people. Skype started bringing in good money for owners (about $ 35 million a quarter). But that was only the beginning.

Buying Skype eBay

In the same 2005, the largest and most popular eBay auction on the planet buys Skype for an astonishing $ 2.6 billion at the time. The owners of the auction did not fully understand why they needed this development, but they considered the deal to be large and profitable.

Already in the next 2006, Skype's revenue doubled and amounted to about $ 195 million. The number of active users also quickly grew to 171 million. In 2007, revenue reached $ 381 million, and there were already 278 million users.

During those four years that the messenger was in the possession of Ebay, the service has become truly popular and in demand all over the world. During this time, the number of active users has grown from 55 to 400 million.

In November 2009, the program is sold again. eBay announced that they had sold 70% of the company for $ 2.5 billion. Moreover, the very first owners, those who created the program, received a 14% stake in the service and a seat on the board of directors. Without investing a dime in the development of the service. They simply guaranteed in return that they would not be prosecuted by Ebay for illegal use of their patent.

The era of Microsoft

In 2010, the number of Skype users reached 663 million, and revenue grew 20% to $ 860 million. But the company is still losing money, despite the fact that the annual loss was only $ 7 million.

In 2011, Microsoft announced that they were buying Skype and were willing to pay a whopping $ 8.5 billion for the deal. It was the largest acquisition the Windows developers have ever made.

Microsoft executives felt comfortable paying this amount because they had big plans. They planned to integrate Skype into their applications like Windows, MS Office, etc.

Skype is available today for devices running Windows 2000, XP, Vista, 7, 8 and Windows phones. Also for Apple gadgets and Play Station Portable Sony.

Development of application versions

Skype 4.1 was launched in 2009. By 2010, Skype 4.1 was rooted in Windows, Mac, and Linux. Skype is targeting the mobile market for devices such as Android, iPhone and iPad. Earlier versions only allowed voice calls. In December 2010, Skype video calling became available for iPhone users. By June 2011, Androids are using the same access.

Skype continues to expand into new markets, becoming available for applications such as Linux, smart TVs, game consoles. Version 5.3 is released in May 2011 after the takeover of Microsoft. It includes Facebook integration and group video calling.

The program was dynamic and significantly surpassed the original design. A large number of consumers began to move to the new platform with group calling, unlimited country calls and the promise of an ad-free interface.

In November 2012, Microsoft announced that Skype would become the main messaging service. Users can sign in with their Microsoft account. The Bing search bar was also included in the installer.

The messenger is gradually adapting to the general style of Microsoft.

Skype has already established itself as the leading platform for video and voice calling, instant messaging, file and collaborative chats. Microsoft has turned Skype into a winning investment and amazing online voice and video messaging software. Its creator can be proud of his brainchild.