
The 54 billion minutes of international traffic added by Skype represents 50 per cent more than the combined international volume of growth of every telephone company in the world during the year. Traffic generated by the service also increased to a 40% of the whole international telecom market size. In 2013 Skype carried over 214 billion minutes of international calls. The same year Microsoft announced that Skype would become the main Microsoft messaging service, eliminating its proprietary Messenger service. By 2012 Microsoft's (NASDAQ:MSFT) Skype unit grows its international traffic by 44 percent in the year, more than twice the volume growth achieved by all the phone companies in the world combined. In 2011 Skype is acquired by Microsoft for US$8.5 billion. The service launches a video calling app for the iPhone, iPad, and iPod Touch so their owners can make free Skype-to-Skype videocalls wherever they are. By 2009, 70% of Skype is sold to a consortium of Silver Lake Partners, Canada Pension Plan Investment Board, Andreessen Horowitz, and Joltid (owned by the original Skype founders). However, by 2008 eBay became increasingly disenchanted with their investment on Skype, losing millions of dollars. In 2007 Skype generated $382 million in revenues and claimed to have 276 million users. As of 2006, the service is still a PC-only phenomenon. In 2006 video calling service is born, with Skype among the pioneering platforms.


In 2005 Skype is sold to eBay for US$2.6 billion. Skype is founded, early introducing audio conference calling.
