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Skype is an IM and VoIP protocol and software which is available for Windows, Mac OS, Linux, and portable devices. It can be used to phone other users (and non-Skype phones using SkypeOut), text chat with other users, and receive phonecalls from non-Skype phones to a local number of the Skype user's choice.

Skype differs from most other IM protocols by being a totally de-centralised model: there isn't a central server which clients connect to, instead it works in a peer-to-peer fashion. This makes it more scalable, so the high number of users that use Skype won't affect system performance.

One downside to Skype's peer-to-peer model is if you have a fast internet connection you will be set as a 'supernode' — this means that Skype traffic will be sent through your connection, which will increase bandwidth usage.

Other features of Skype exist such as Skype Voicemail which allows callers to leave a voice message just like with mobile phone providers; Skype video calling; Skype SMS which allows users to send a text message to mobile phones; and Skypecasts, allowing moderated conversations between up to 100 participants, with the host who can choose who gets the floor.