In 1993, an extraordinary new company named Bluemoon Software was registered in Estonia.
In addition to video game development, in 2001, Bluemoon Software’s founders Jaan Tallinn, Priit Kasesalu, and Ahti Heinla launched the music-sharing application Kazaa, which eventually became the foundation for Skype.
Skype itself was founded in 2003. Two years later, the company was sold to online auction company eBay for USD 2.6 billion.
Niklas Zennström and Janus Friis owned 14 percent of Skype’s shares.
On 10 May 2011, Microsoft announced that it was acquiring Skype for USD 8.5 billion.
In truth, it was by sheer luck that Skype was developed in Estonia. The men behind this turn of events were the former marketing director of Tele2 Stefan Öberg from Sweden, Linnar Viik, and Tarvi Martens, who convinced Niklas Zennström to invest in the venture of the Estonians.
Skype’s circle of creators includes Niklas Zennström, Janus Friis, Ahti Heinla, Priit Kasesalu, Jaan Tallinn, and Taivo Annus.
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