Skype Down?
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From: UK
Skype Down?
Evening all, anyone having trouble signing into skype? I haven't been able to sign in for over an hour now and the website is tempremental - probably because of the number of hits its getting from disconnected users. Let me know if you're having similar problems. Thanks.
Joined: Jun 2009
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From: Bedford, UK
Take this with a pinch of salt then
23,899,642 people online right now - or so says their homepage.
To quote
Mr Parkes said Skype is building "mega-supernodes" to fix the problem, but that it could take a few hours before service returns and even longer before some features - such as group video calling - start working again.
Not just supernodes but 'mega-supernodes'. I've no idea what this means
. Too old at 57.
To quote
Mr Parkes said Skype is building "mega-supernodes" to fix the problem, but that it could take a few hours before service returns and even longer before some features - such as group video calling - start working again.
Not just supernodes but 'mega-supernodes'. I've no idea what this means
. Too old at 57.
Psychophysiological entity
Joined: Jun 2001
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From: Walton on the Naze Essex.
I knowed this would happen. (Spoken in a Gabby voice.) [You've got to be really old to remember how that sounds.]
Funny, innit? Being able to sit in one's den in Texas, and chat to folk around the world with a clarity that makes them sound as though they were beside you. That's 'Normal.'
When my son showed his son's friend his new 3D camera, the kit said, 'Mmm...yeh. Cool.' and ran off to play with something really interesting.
Skype relies on a network of computers and phones to keep things running and some of these are what Skype call Supernodes. When you try to talk to someone on Skype your computer will look for a Supernode to figure out how to connect to them. Skype are now creating what they call “mega-supernodes” which will take several hours at which point things should return to normal.
Funny, innit? Being able to sit in one's den in Texas, and chat to folk around the world with a clarity that makes them sound as though they were beside you. That's 'Normal.'
When my son showed his son's friend his new 3D camera, the kit said, 'Mmm...yeh. Cool.' and ran off to play with something really interesting.
Joined: May 1999
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From: Quite near 'An aerodrome somewhere in England'
Skype is still tits up this morning - it connects for a few seconds, then it's back to the grey icon and rolling arrows....
Quite surprising how many people now 'rely' on Skype; it's convenient to have as an alternative and for videochats, but I wouldn't rely on it exclusively at this stage.
Skype V5.0.0.152 has been less stable than the previous version; I tried to download a later version earlier this week and it kept giving 'skype exception error' messages....
Quite surprising how many people now 'rely' on Skype; it's convenient to have as an alternative and for videochats, but I wouldn't rely on it exclusively at this stage.
Skype V5.0.0.152 has been less stable than the previous version; I tried to download a later version earlier this week and it kept giving 'skype exception error' messages....
Per Ardua ad Astraeus
Joined: Mar 2000
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From: UK
I'm quite surprised that they have not put a 'splash' message on the home page - it would save a lot of rooting around to see that they know!
I think the problem is potentially serious for those many businesses who have switched to VOIP for communications.
Do we know if it is a DOS, server crash, virus or what?
I think the problem is potentially serious for those many businesses who have switched to VOIP for communications.
Do we know if it is a DOS, server crash, virus or what?
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 3,663
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From: Earth
BOAC,
Businesses with half a brain don't use Skype for their VoIP.
Skype - The Big Blog - Skype downtime today
Apparently something to do with a bug in the latest version, or so the "official" line goes.
It's a bit difficult to DoS a P2P network (not impossible, just tricky)..... although obviously one should not rule it out, my uninformed guess would be that that's unlikely to be the cause (apart from the present "official" explanation of a self-inflicted DoS )
I think the problem is potentially serious for those many businesses who have switched to VOIP for communications.
Do we know if it is a DOS, server crash, virus or what?
Apparently something to do with a bug in the latest version, or so the "official" line goes.
It's a bit difficult to DoS a P2P network (not impossible, just tricky)..... although obviously one should not rule it out, my uninformed guess would be that that's unlikely to be the cause (apart from the present "official" explanation of a self-inflicted DoS )
Last edited by mixture; 23rd December 2010 at 09:32.
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From: In transit
I think the problem is potentially serious for those many businesses who have switched to VOIP for communications.
Joined: Jan 2008
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From: Bracknell, Berks, UK
It seems to me little better than a toy and I am surprised to hear that (serious) businesses use it. I don't even use it for voice calls, I find the quality unacceptable, and the saving on cost not worthwhile. Also I would not call clients using Skype as I think it looks unprofessional, like using a Hotmail or Yahoo email address.
Serious businesses DO use VoIP. Indeed, I am willing to bet that 99% of your phone calls from your desk phone anywhere has incorporated some sort of VoIP.
Joined: Feb 1998
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From: Formerly of Nam
Skype still down around here - had to rely on the bloody cellphone all day! 
Actually Capetonian I prefer to deal with businesses who have a Skype contact because
I save on phone costs and I suppose they do too. If looking "unprofessional" means it
appears uncool not to use expensive landlines or cellular connections, then I'm all for this
unprofessionality. If I'm put on hold its no big expensive deal. Any mob who refuses to utilise
this medium "because it seems unprofessional" just cut their own throats because I and
others simply take our business elsewhere. I talk a lot to major banks and for example I
was fed up paying heaps in calls to Barclays so HSBC China won out instead.
Quite often I'll be on the Skype blower for up to 3 hours or more with Skype-equipped
investment mobs I deal with in Europe, USA and China not to mention my mates in far
flung areas and talking to overseas companies in general. I'll be stuffed paying a damn
fortune for calls, unprofessional-looking or not.
Businesses with Skype get a higher volume of clientele because tel costs are kept to a
minimum on both sides of the mike, customers especially.
Also I would not call clients using Skype as I think it looks unprofessional,
I save on phone costs and I suppose they do too. If looking "unprofessional" means it
appears uncool not to use expensive landlines or cellular connections, then I'm all for this
unprofessionality. If I'm put on hold its no big expensive deal. Any mob who refuses to utilise
this medium "because it seems unprofessional" just cut their own throats because I and
others simply take our business elsewhere. I talk a lot to major banks and for example I
was fed up paying heaps in calls to Barclays so HSBC China won out instead.
Quite often I'll be on the Skype blower for up to 3 hours or more with Skype-equipped
investment mobs I deal with in Europe, USA and China not to mention my mates in far
flung areas and talking to overseas companies in general. I'll be stuffed paying a damn
fortune for calls, unprofessional-looking or not.
Businesses with Skype get a higher volume of clientele because tel costs are kept to a
minimum on both sides of the mike, customers especially.
Psychophysiological entity
Joined: Jun 2001
Aviation Qualifications: ATPL
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From: Walton on the Naze Essex.
I think we sometimes forget just how far we've come in the last 40 years. The to-be Rivetess called me in Malta when I was doing one of the month stints there. 3 mins. Her entire week's wages.
In 1990, we spent 79 Quid on a row across the Atlantic.
I love Skype, but I think it might be better to pay a nominal charge and get a solid service. With 20 million people on line at any one time, a cent a minute would give them substantial funds to put into more kit - it has to be better than getting all. Even on my meager pension, I for one would think that was a bargain.
Sometimes, things that are too good to be true, really are.
In 1990, we spent 79 Quid on a row across the Atlantic.
I love Skype, but I think it might be better to pay a nominal charge and get a solid service. With 20 million people on line at any one time, a cent a minute would give them substantial funds to put into more kit - it has to be better than getting
all. Even on my meager pension, I for one would think that was a bargain.Sometimes, things that are too good to be true, really are.
