Skype and hotmail

Two iconic brands from the early days of the internet!

Skype

Skype is a video conferencing platform that allows users to make voice and video calls, send instant messages, and share files over the internet. It was founded in 2003 by Niklas Zennström and Janus Friis, and was acquired by Microsoft in 2011 for $8.5 billion.

Skype's early success was largely due to its innovative peer-to-peer technology, which allowed users to make voice and video calls over the internet without the need for traditional phone lines or expensive hardware. This made it a popular choice for both personal and business use.

Today, Skype is one of the most widely used video conferencing platforms in the world, with over 300 million active users. It offers a range of features, including group video calls, screen sharing, and integration with other Microsoft products like Outlook and Office.

Hotmail

Hotmail is a web-based email service that was launched in 1996 by Sabeer Bhatia and Jack Smith. It was one of the first free web-based email services, and quickly gained popularity due to its ease of use and accessibility.

Hotmail was acquired by Microsoft in 1997 for $400 million, and was rebranded as Outlook.com in 2012. Today, Outlook.com is one of the most popular email services in the world, with over 400 million active users.

Hotmail's early success was largely due to its innovative approach to email, which allowed users to access their email accounts from anywhere with an internet connection. This was a major departure from traditional email services, which required users to access their email accounts through a specific computer or device.

Hotmail's popularity also led to the rise of spam and phishing attacks, as spammers and hackers sought to take advantage of the service's large user base. However, Microsoft has since implemented a range of security measures to protect users' accounts and prevent these types of attacks.

Overall, Skype and Hotmail are two iconic brands that have played a significant role in shaping the way we communicate and access information online.