Why Skype? from Aisling

Dear Word Spy,

Why is Skype called Skype? is it because it is in the sky?

from Aisling


Dear Aisling.

This is a hard question to answer! From what I can find out, it seems that Skype was originally called "Sky Peer-to-Peer". This is not the sort of peer that is like peep though. This sort of peer is another word for a friend or a work-mate, someone in a similar position to you. So sort of like "Sky Friend -to Friend".

Anyway, then "Sky Peer-to-Peer" was shortened to "Skpe" just to make it easier to say and remember.

But why "Sky"? - well, I think you might be right, maybe it's something to do with the big big sky above us all, and the amazing way people can talk to each other, peer-to-peer through the computer!

yours, still amazed,

The Word Spy