The Register® — Biting the hand that feeds IT

Skype opens up to developers

Extending presence in IM market

Join our expert panel in discussing application security

Internet telephony firm Skype is opening up its technology to third party developers. The move means coders will be able to integrate Skype's presence and instant messaging services into their website or applications. In opening up to third party developers, Skype boasted that it was creating the "largest open instant messaging platform" in the world. The SkypeNet and SkypeWeb Application Programming Interface (API) will be opened up as part of the wider Skype Developer Program, which already supports a community of partners and developers.

The firm says its software has been downloaded 150m times in 225 countries and territories since its launch two years ago. More than 51m people are registered to use Skype's free services and 2m people have created accounts for Skype paid services, according to the firm. According to a recent study by network management firm Sandvine, Skype accounts for 46 per cent of all US VoIP traffic. ®

See what The Register's experts have to say on application security

Don’t Miss

Win a Samsung C6625!

Reg Lucky Draw Windows Mobile handsets up for grabs

Palm_Pre_001_SMIs your cameraphone an oxymoron?

Pic Review iPhone 3G v iPhone 3GS v Palm Pre

Vulture logo with head phonesWindows 7, Bing and security: Mr Ballmer regrets

Steve hopes Microsoft money can buy your love

Sign up, sign up for The Register IT security newsletter

Narrowcasting for the email classes