Instant-messaging and voice-over-IP service Skype has reached its 10th anniversary today, having changed the way the world communicates and having attracted 300m users who have made 1.4trn minutes of voice and video calls using Skype.
“Technology has evolved so much in the last 10 years that the next generation just thinks being next to each other on video wherever you are is simply the way life works,” said Elisa Steele, chief marketing officer for Skype at Microsoft.
The Estonian company co-founded by Ahti Heinla, Priit Kasesalu, Jaan Tallinn, Janus Friis and Niklas Zennström has grown into a multi-billion-dollar Microsoft asset, as well.
Microsoft acquired Skype in May 2011 for US$8.5bn and, according to Steele, Skype has to continue to disrupt to remain successful.
“We’re up for the challenge,” she said.
To mark Skype’s 10 years, an infographic by the company that’s published on Visual.ly takes a look at the people, places and behaviour Skype has influenced over the past decade.
