Skype used to be a great, simple product. It worked intuitively and as expected. Then Microsoft got their hands on it and just couldn't leave it alone. As is typical with Microsoft they have very little clue about user interfaces and great products (they used to be that is a loooong time ago.)

Now Skype is no longer as usable. Things like recent calls is well hidden. Speakerphone does not really work in smart phones, costs are higher, you can't select country code, etc.

Why is it that Microsoft always seems to be able to screw up a perfectly good product? Google - here I come!

http://tmrepository.com/fudtracker/skype-crashes-and-burns-and-its-all-microsofts-fau/

"Obviously that deal went all the way through and Microsoft now owns skype. Now that it’s under microsoft control, it is now crap and went down. This has never happen before… so it is all Microsoft fault.

This conveniently ignores the fact that, at this point, Microsoft does not own Skype; The purchase is up for review. The author also claims that Skype has had 100% uptime until this point, which Skype Journal refutes.
"

i have been using skype for years its the best . but whats happening? am not able to connect with my family. i have downloaded time and again but its not working still. what is the best way to make it work again?

Are you people serious? Are the author and some of the people commenting 12 years old?

The acquisition of Skype by Microsoft has just been announced and is subject to regulatory approval. There has not been a single impact to either company at this point. To somehow suggest that the proposed purchase was a factor in this outage is beyond irresponsible and bizzare.

Some of the people commenting just make me shake my head. You guys would blame Microsoft for the weather if you weren't already trying to blame George Bush or the United States. As Forest Gump's mother once said, "stupid is as stupid does" and the author and you people are effin stupid.

You guys are hilarious! You actually read inquirer for accurate news? OMG! Left wing - America bashing - Inquirer is a joke! Wake up, drink you cool-aid. And enjoy the monkey show!

I would question the judgment of any management running that much hardware on Microsoft Server...

They should be taught a lesson!

Keep them using it, and see how many more times they go down!!

That will learn them!!

(vernacular for it will give them adequate experience and training to decide on better software... and suppliers)

Guys, look at "how to fix this problem" posted by a SKYPE TECHNICIAN. YES, it is easy for anyone that knows his/her way around BUT imagine this problem happening to an old lady. SKYPE TECHNICIAN try to make fixing the problem easier next time.

Here is one fix that people can try:http://backspacetab.com/2011/05/27/skype-crash-2011/

If you think this is Microsoft's fault you're too dumb to be using Skype or a computer. Yes, Microsoft will eventually screw up Skype but this deal just happened. Do you really think a corporate merger of this size has resulted in anything at all happening in approximately 2 weeks?

Mangraviti, why do you think MS will kill Skype on the Mac? The goals of the software is to have as many user as possible. Also, did you know Microsoft makes more Mac software than anyone else? Also, if you haven't noticed Microsoft has significantly increased the number of quality apps for the iphone and ipad. Again, I ask... why do you think Microsoft will kill Skype for OSX?

Skype may be crashing, but that is nothing new. Microsoft may "own" Skype but the ink is barely dry and there have been NO CHANGES implmented by Microsoft. The employees are still getting Skype paychecks. This is a horribly misinformed article.

According to Heisenberg's Uncertainty Principle, even in a vacuum, virtual software bugs will spontaneously be created and destroyed.

Unfortunately, the purchase by Microsoft of a duff OS that became MS-DOS, introduced a singularity in the software development continuum that attracts virtual bugs. The Microsoft Bug Sink, as the phenomenon is know in scientific circles, is periodically purged. This purging happens every time a Microsoft developer compiles their code. It's at this point that bugs are transferred out of the sink into the Microsoft code base. Thus, it is impossible for any Microsoft product to be bug-free, in fact, as study after study has shown, the older the Microsoft software, the more bugs it contains. This is known as the Gates Paradox. For other companies, the reverse is true: the older the software, the more stable it becomes.

Unfortunately, Microsoft's acquisition of Skype caused a huge jump in the density of the Microsoft bug singularity, pulling in a far greater number of virtual bugs. When the Skype software was subsequently recompiled, there was a catastrophic effect upon the Skype code base, pretty much like dipping a cookie into coffee. This because the Skype code base is now part of the Microsoft code base. In addition, the relative virgin territory of code that was Skype served to suck in a disproportionate number of virtual bugs. Hence, the Skype failure.

The only practical way for consumers to deal with the Gates Paradox is to avoid all Microsoft software.

In short: M$ == Bugs = Don't Go There

Now you know. Don't say you were never told!

For the first time ever since I have been using Skype it suddenly freezes on me. Never before did I encounter Skype freezing while I am typing a note or chatting. I was wondering what was going on and now I know. Microsoft took over Skype. Good luck!!!

Hey Mark a lot of people use M$ because that is what is available. M$ has a monopoly on software for everything. Most games and accounting software etc. will only run on M$. Other OS can't compete.
That is also why older games will not run on a PC with M$ because M$ is not backwards compatible. Only games that ran on DOS were backwards compatible. Why you ask? So M$ could make more money selling (indirectly)new, improved games and other software. Monopoly Yes?

RE: Light, 26th May, Sorry Light but his isn't idiotic Microsoft bashing. If you had any idea of Microsoft as a company, you will know, that Microsoft's purchase of Skype is only going one way. And that is not good for Skype users.

For those who are protecting Microsoft from its responsibility:

You may be right. Maybe, M$ has nothing to do with this major crash.

Even though I am 100% skeptical, I do believe that Microsoft has some kind of "curse" and whatever it touches or gets near turns into shit.

Let's look into Gizmo, pals! After Microsft takes control of Skype, that will be the end of support for Linux (my OS) and Mac. Only Windoze will be supported alongside with XBOX and other shitty M$ products.

My routine was shattered when i woke up this morning, there i was trying to make a call to my fiance and a message came up SKYPE IS NOT WORKING!!!. I truly dont understand all the intricacies but what i do know for sure i cannot make or recieve any calls. I have a 2010 HP PAVILION dont know if what was said about the new PC may apply to me but my world just got dark, lonely and miserable without Skype someone please help.

Idiotic to suggest that just because Microsoft will purchase Skype it’s the reason Skype is crashing.
mindless Microsoft bashing with no insight into the way the corporate world and the technical works.
And seriously you have to be retarded to crash windows these days so just stop with this windows always crashes BS its absolute crap.

Microcrap fanboys are going to be going bunkers over this. YES, IT IS BECAUSE Microsoft bought Skype. Period. Anything Microbozo touches goes to hell in a hand basket. As usual. As Always.

Skype is crashing in ALL OS's: Windows and Macs. ANd it is a HUGE widespread event, the worst ever.

Only crashed on newer PC versions.
My old PC 3... version & WM phone version still works fine.

Security hacking for new versions ?
so shut them down for security ?

Deleting a file called shared.xml in your Application Data seems to fix the problem. Whether they can sort that out remotely to everyone waits to be seen.

Well, even if it isn't directly related to Micro$oft it doesn't do them any favours in shaking off the bad name they have.
In a way, M$ are being relegated to the terminals they replaced in the 80's! ;-)

I and my colleagues have suffered the same crash. but Skype still works on my Android phone, and possibly is ok on Mac as well

I was going through the same checks by uninstalling and downloading the software again. Apparently its working in one of computer but not the other one.

As you rightly said it's only two weeks since Microsoft said they would be buying Skype.....it will be a couple of months at least before they have any 'feet under the table' and certainly they would not be anything to do with the problems occurring today. People have this huge chip on their shoulder about Microsoft and yet most of them use their products or products designed by them everyday...why? Obviously because they are the best available or they would use something else!!! Get over it and cut them some slack...they aren't responsible for the whole of the internet and it's problems.

Go to AppData/Roaming/Skype and rename shared.xml (for Example shared1.xml).
Then everything will work again.

My Skype just crashed about an hour ago, while I was trying to pick up a call from my father. After that, I could never log in again. I tried at least 15 times, and nothing. Restarting my Mac didn´t work, so I decided to uninstall and delete the application, to download it again. But, guess what? I went to skype´s website and I haven´t been able to download the app again.. so, now I´m Officially skypeless!! I just wonder, is this happening only to Mac users or to everyone? Too bad Microsoft bought this company. I´ve never had soo many problems with the calls and the bad connections as after that horrible day!!! :(