Estonia to relaunch Skype as Europe's sovereign platform
11 hours ago
- #Skype relaunch
- #digital sovereignty
- #Estonian tech
- Estonian government and private investors plan to buy Skype back from Microsoft and relaunch it as a secure European communications platform.
- Skype, founded in 2003 and acquired by Microsoft in 2011, was a pioneering video-chat service and remains central to Estonia's startup mythology.
- The proposal aims to position Skype as a European alternative for digital sovereignty, with encrypted messaging and calls for public-sector and professional users.
- The relaunch may feature EU-based cloud hosting, secure cross-border calling, and a 'heritage mode' with the original ringtone.
- The platform could be headquartered in Tallinn, with a development centre in Tartu, and may attract early Skype figures like Jaan Tallinn and Taavet Hinrikus.