[shubble]

This presentation: http://goo.gl/hgkea [pdf], shows why skype is evil.

The protocol and client are both obfuscated at cost to performance and security. Exploits have been found repeatedly for everything from remote code execution to using skype clients like a botnet.

Non-NAT'd nodes are forced to carry traffic for NATed nodes. Skype have the ability to intercept your calls, but you guessed that anyway.

Also, if everyone in the world used one phone company, or bank, and that company refused to allow other new companies to inter-operate, they would face antitrust. Skype, and arguably facebook, control their markets. They should be forced to allow inter-op.

[pyre]

  > Skype, and arguably facebook, control their markets.

Facebook users have invested a lot of time forming their social connections, posting photos, tagging photos, etc. On the other hand, most Skype users just have a buddy list and people that they talk to. There is no 'anchor' keeping them from jumping ship to another client/protocol (or even running that client/protocol in parallel with Skype). Skype is not the anti-trust that you are looking for.

[mitjak]

I wonder what would happen if Microsoft open sourced the protocol and parts of the client.

[ZeSmith]

A PR boost for them, at least. Can't tell if it would be a good thing in the end, though.