A 21 st century innovation

Two individuals with a vision about communication Janus Friis and Niklas Zennstrom, Co-founders

Niklas Zennstrom, co-founder of Skype, also developed Kazaa, a file sharing service, that was shut down after intense litigation and consequent financial insolvency. Its demise eventually lead to the development of Skype.

Need Research Development Commercialization The future

Skype's selling point to investors. So how it would it make money? Skype could upsell features to consumers.

Skype has positioned itself as a global communication tool for individuals and businesses alike. Like other tools that operate through the internet security has been a concern.

Faced with competition from traditional media outlets Skype is resilient. Or perhaps it is the other way around.

In 2010, “Skype users made 88.4 billion minutes of Skype-to-Skype calls, and approximately 40% of these were video calls.” At peak times million users 2003 Skype launched by founded by Niklas Zennström and Janus Friis Voice/video conferencing: Skype Mobile April increasing phone compatibility 2009, SIP or Skype for Business May 2010, Skype for Apple's iPhone app million users

Discussion of Challenges Skype

The adopters –First: Early adopters are students, who already have tested other conferencing tools the likes of Oovoo, and seek free communication alternatives. –Second: some instructors and distance education administrators, developers and trainers

strategies –Skype’s free standard features have expanded, but so have the upselling features. –These technique is successful because people are will to pay a premium since they believe they are already getting so much for free.

A comparative example is how Jing (which enables users to make videos and screen capture) offers the software download for free. ( com/learn/jing/)

laggards –Faculty If they resist or have delayed using the education technology tools available, the addition of another communication option can seem overwhelming.

Up next for Skype –Acquisitions –Group video calling expansion –Premium package additions –Video mobile calling on iPhone4, iPod Touch, Droid –Video calling apps

Winning strategies Observability and Trialability (Rogers, 2003) can expand Skype adoption.

–Compatibility, Complexity and Observability- will help to optimize Skype diffusion and adoption.

In corporate or education The future includes Skype

Classrooms anywhere and everywhere can easily and for free connect and collaborate

No gimmicks…in a language users at any tech level can understand Skype’s comprehensive and basic service is free.

Adoption is undeniable as when you search you Google… and from now on to connect or call you

For a quick overview about Skype on capzles….just click at your leisure… m/#/60d653a0-7d8a bbe4- f692572ae510/ m/#/60d653a0-7d8a bbe4- f692572ae510/