In Short

Skype, now owned by Microsoft, is an incredibly popular instant messaging, voice-over-IP, and video calling service. With Skype you chat with your friends either singularly or in groups, make calls to other Skype users or phones, and make video calls. A peer-to-peer service it still struggles with — or doesn't even try to — sync. Skype's cross-platform support is outstanding, however, with native apps not only for iPhone and iPad but for Mac, Windows, Android, BlackBerry, and more.

Skype, now owned by Microsoft, is an incredibly popular instant messaging, voice-over-IP, and video calling service. With Skype you chat with your friends either singularly or in groups, make calls to other Skype users or phones, and make video calls. A peer-to-peer service it still struggles with — or doesn't even try to — sync. Skype's cross-platform support is outstanding, however, with native apps not only for iPhone and iPad but for Mac, Windows, Android, BlackBerry, and more.