Since the mid-1990s, one of the greatest online challenges has been setting up voice chat over the Internet. Many early endeavors were criticized for their poor quality. Then along came Skype, a company started by two Europeans looking to change the way we communicate. Skype was founded by Niklas Zennstrom (a Swedish citizen) and Janus Friis (a Danish citizen) in 2003. Neither of these brilliant young men were novices in the field. Together they had formed several software and Internet companies, including KaZaA, a program that lets people share files over the Internet.
set up：構成する
endeavors：試み
then along camse X：Xが現れてから
brilliant：立派な
novice：初心者
To use Skype, two computers need to install the free program. Then, using a 10 microphone and speaker (or headset), people can talk to each other for free over the Internet. It is as simple as that. No wonder the software has been downloaded nearly 300 million times.
It is as simple as that.：それだけのこと
Aside from voice chat, Skype has an array of other features, such as text-chat, video-chat, and file-sharing functions. The program is used by individuals, companies, and even English teachers, who hold conversation classes through Skype. At last, people can talk across long distances without paying an arm and a leg.
aside from X：Xはさておき
an array of：いくつかの
paying an arm and a leg：高額を支払う
(ref.) an arm and a leg：法外な値段、大変な出費
(ref.) cost an arm and a leg：バカ高くつく
But Skype is not a charity. It earns money by charging for premium services. With SkypeIn, you pay an annual fee for a local phone number in the U.S., Japan, or one of many other countries. When someone calls that number from a regular telephone, you receive the phone call on your computer. SkypeOut works the opposite way. You pay a fee to use your computer to call a regular telephone. Skype also charges a fee for its Skype Voicemail service. Still, these services are generally much cheaper than those offered by traditional telephone companies.
charge：請求する
In October 2005, the fast-rising company was bought by eBay for $2.1 billion. Skype continues to enhance its software while adding new ways for people to use its services — on cell phones and PDAs, for example. As more people say “I’ll Skype you” instead of “I’ll call you”, the way we communicate may never be the same again.
fast-rising company：急成長企業
enhance：高める