When Janus and I started Skype in 2002, we were hoping to use peer-to-peer technology to generate a more customer-driven communication market. Our vision was to create a software application that would change how people communicate online and alter the economics of the telephony industry as a result. We wanted consumers to benefit directly from new products and services, and we wanted to accelerate the pace of innovation. Today, our vision is a reality. Skype is the fastest growing Internet service in history, with over 75 million users worldwide, 10,000 affiliates, and an evolving community of hardware and software companies working to support a full Skype ecosystem. Our recent acquisition by eBay is another step along this path. We believe free voice is going to fundamentally change the nature of e-commerce, and over the next few years, our goal is to make Skype the world's largest online communication company. My hope is that Skype: The Definitive Guide will help you better understand what Skype is and how you can get the most out of it. Niklas Zennström, CEO and cofounder, Skype |