Just the other day, while waiting for an assignment to start. I noticed almost everyone in the room was on their smartphone.

I asked people which app they spent most time on.

Not to my surprise – Facebook! However, apart from social media – VoIP apps was at the top of the list.

A handful of people said they actually spent their time on Skype. That was surprising!

Seeing the rise of Viber – people still used Skype? Guessing we are going old school!

Skype is a messaging, calling and video calling app available both on Google Play Store and Apple Store for free.

The app uses a proper internet connection to power.

Quick Research

Skype was first released in August 2003 by Dane Janus Friis and Swede Niklas Zennström.

In September 2005, eBay acquired Skype for $2.6 billion.

In September 2009, Silver Lake,Andreessen Horowitz, and the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board announced the acquisition of 65% of Skype for $1.9 billion from eBay, valuing the business at $2.75 billion.

Skype was later acquired by current owners Microsoft in May 2011 for $8.5 billion.

To date there are over 300 million users of Skype all around the world.

Happy downloading!

Messaging

The primary purpose of the app is help you stay in touch with people. This can be done through messaging.

You can talk with your fingers no matter where you are as long as there is a proper internet connection.

Once you have signed into Skype you can search for other people through usernames.

You will have to wait for approval of request and you are ready to message.

The messaging feature also comes with emoticons – these are most creative emoticons compared to other VoIP apps.

The ‘funny faces’ are illustrated meaning they pop up moving.

Voice and Video Calls

The app also was one the first few apps to offer video and voice all in one.

You can call your friends and family on the same calls and switch from voice to video.

The video feature can be a bit difficult when trying to communicate with poor internet signal.

The same can be said for the voice call features. However, that is not the fault of the app it is purely the internet connection and signal.

Yet, it is a get way to stay in touch with friends and family and live every moment together.

Feedback: rachael.nath@fijisun.com.fj