In the words of one of its founders, Niklas Zennstrom, Skype was the product of long and cold Swedish winters.

The Skype software, created in 2003 by Swedish entrepeneurs Zennstrom and Janus Friis, allows users to communicate via video, voice and instant messaging, establishing itself as a cheaper alternative to long-distance telephone calls and allowing face-to-face communication for personal or professional relations.