Skype is one of the world’s most popular ways to communicate long-distance. However, despite the fact that the service has spent a considerable amount of time in the spotlight and under the scrutiny of the public eye, there are still some things that many people don’t know. With that in mind, here we present our list of 15 things you probably didn’t know about Skype. Check out part one below, and stay tuned for part two, coming soon!
Number Fifteen: It Was the First Affordable Way to Communicate Abroad
Before the release of services like WhatsApp, Skype was totally ahead of the game. It was the very first service to let users purchase and use an international phone number for just dollars a month.
Number Fourteen: It’s a Division of Microsoft. Most people don’t realize how closely Skype is involved with Microsoft
In fact, the company is an actual division of Microsoft. Rather than compete with Microsoft, Skype found it easier to join forces with them.
Number Thirteen: It’s Banned in Some Countries
Seriously! The service is banned or drastically slowed down in countries such as China, Mexico, and Belize. There are ways to get around this, but they are neither convenient nor easy.
Number Twelve: The First American Company to Acquire the Service’s Technology Was eBay
Some people think the service was invented in America, but the truth is that it was developed by a European team. However, the first American company to acquire Skype’s technology was eBay, and that happened in 2005.
Number Eleven: It Won’t Let You Call 911
If you have an emergency when you’re on a Skype call, you better reach for an actual phone. In North America, Europe, Nepal, and India, the service’s users cannot use it to call 911 (or the equivalent emergency number).
Number Ten: As of 2016, More Than 2 Trillion Minutes of Skype Video Calls Have Been Made
It’s true! That’s a lot of video footage.
Number Nine: One-Fourth of Millennials Use the Service
It’s no secret that people in their 20s and 30s like to stay in touch with the most up-to-date technology. Well, this is especially true with Skype, because an impressive quarter of all millennials use the service around the world. Stay tuned for part two of this list, coming soon!