A Look at What Caused Skype to Shut Down

Skype is one of the most popular communication programs used by people on the internet. People with Skype accounts can call one another and talk verbally using computer microphones. Phone calls from standard landlines can even be received and handled through a Skype account. Rates for calls through Skype are cheaper than standard calls, and calls between Skype users are free, making Skype especially popular. However, on August 16 and 17 in 2007, Skype shut down because of a system crash. Here is a look at what caused Skype to shut down.

One of the factors that caused Skype to shut down was a security update that took place on the Microsoft Windows operating system. Microsoft Windows users receive routine security updates from time to time to protect their computers from the newest online hazards.

One of the requirements for a security update on the Windows operating system is that the computer must be restarted so that the new updates can be installed and function. According to reports from Skype, there was a high amount of traffic, and it seemed that everyone was rebooting their computers at the same time and then trying to get onto the Skype program. This played a significant role in causing Skype to shut down.

Another issue that caused Skype to shut down was an error in the software code in the Skype program. This error prompted Skype to shut down when the excessive activity took place. It is unclear how the error came about, but after it was found, work began to close the error so that a shutdown like this would not happen again.

The Skype Company described the error that caused Skype to shut down as a "deficiency in an algorithm within Skype networking software." The algorithm was described as an interaction that helps to connect the Skype network with the client that the individual Skype user has to connect. This was the first time this had happened within the system. Some have argued that the company was not prepared to take care of this particular type of error.

Many other factors revolve around what caused Skype to shut down. One of the biggest problems is that more people are using Skype than in recent years, which has prompted more people to use up the bandwidth that Skype has available. It is theorized that because of the incredible demand for services from Skype, the system may have shut down as a result.

How popular has Skype become recently? In the early part of 2006, there were a little less than a hundred million Skype accounts throughout the world. As of July 2007, there are a little over 220 million users throughout the world. With an average of nine million individual users on at once at any time of the day around the world, the bandwidth amount and activity that can take place with all of the Skype accounts can cause the Skype program to be overtaxed.

That is a general look into what caused Skype to shut down. While the original problem has been fixed, and Skype is now available for all people to use again, the Skype Company will be looking to take care of the problem so that this will not happen again. However, with the continuously growing popularity of Skype and the increased activity that is used in Skype, there is always the chance that something new may happen, unless Skype can upgrade their system to handle so much traffic.