Skype

Skype is an app currently owned by Microsoft which was designed to provide video chat or calls between users on various platforms but has grown since its establishment into an important tool used in business meetings and for educational purposes. Users can send instant messages, video messages, images, documents, and can host conference calls with other users - mostly for free apart with a subscription needed to call a landline or mobile phone number. As of 2015, over 300 million users were estimated to be active each month.

Released in 2003 by Niklas Zennstrom and Janus Friis as a desktop-only app, Skype was bought by various companies until Microsoft acquired it in 2011, which integrated Skype into its other products, allowing Skype to grow and develop into its multi-platformed application it is today. Currently, Skype can run on systems such as the Xbox One, Windows phones, iOS, Android, to only name a few.

Skype, despite being a commercial product, is also growing as an educational tool as it connects teachers and students across the world for global education projects. Voice calling allows students who speak different languages to teach each other by alternating speech in their native language, video conferencing allows students and teachers to contact experts in particular fields of education or even hold virtual field trips. Skype has integrated this educational aspect into its functionality and has introduced "Skype in the classroom" on its website and allows teachers to collaborate with other teachers, and introduce their students to each other to share ideas.