Update, 12/22, 3:30 EST: Skype said it may take a few more hours for service to resume, in a company blog post apologizing for the disruption.
"Skype isn't a network like a conventional phone or IM network – instead, it relies on millions of individual connections between computers and phones to keep things up and running," wrote Pete Parkes, Skype's blogger-in-chief. "Some of these computers are what we call 'supernodes' – they act a bit like phone directories for Skype. If you want to talk to someone, and your Skype app can't find them immediately (for example, because they're connecting from a different location or from a different device) your computer or phone will first try to find a supernode to figure out how to reach them.
Under normal circumstances, there are a large number of supernodes available. Unfortunately, today, many of them were taken offline by a problem affecting some versions of Skype. As Skype relies on being able to maintain contact with supernodes, it may appear offline for some of you."
To combat the problem, Skype said its engineers are creating "mega-supernodes" to "gradually return things to normal."
Original story:
Has Murphy's Law gone into effect at Skype?
Just one day after two-month CEO Tony Bates talked up Skype's expansion plans at MercuryNews.com, the VoIP service went down this morning.
"We are currently investigating and we're sorry for the disruption to our users conversations. Our engineers and site operations team are working non-stop to get things back to normal. Please continue to follow @skype on Twitter for updates," a spokeswoman for Skype told PCMag.
This morning, Skype had tweeted, "Some of you may have problems signing in to Skype – we're investigating, and we're sorry for the disruption to your conversations."
Since postponing its IPO in August until, according to rumors, next year, the former eBay company faces intense pressure to grow its paid user base. As of June, only 6.5 percent of Skype's 124 million active users, or 8.1 million of them, actually pay to use the VoIP service. On average, these users pay $96 a year.
Yesterday Bates told MercuryNews.com that he hoped to charge consumers for "premium services" like video calls streamed on your TV. Bates said video calls currently make up 40 percent of all Skype calls.
Bates, a former SVP of enterprise, commercial and small business development at Cisco, joined Skype in October. At Cisco, his role has been assumed by Padmasree Warrior, Cisco's chief technical officer.
Editor's Note: This story was updated at 1:30 pm EST with comment from Skype.