Prevalence of Skype in 2008

[q_dicted]

Pretty much what the subject says. Google tells me that Skype came to be in 2003, but I'm trying to find out if it was in common enough use in 2008 that it won't seem anachronistic. Also, most older references seem to lean towards Microsoft/Linux OS. Was it available for Mac in 2008? I tried all the google fu I could think of with combinations of

Comments

[malanachronism]

Can't help you with regards to Mac, but I was using Skype to chat to my partner fairly regularly in 2008 (and a whole lot every year since then). I was using a school-issued laptop which had Skype pre-downloaded onto it - considering my school was fairly behind-the-times, that argues for it being fairly commonly used/widespread at that point. It certainly wouldn't seem anachronistic to me for you to have your characters using it.

(NB: I'm a Brit, my partner's Canadian, so you may want someone else's opinion if your character's not from the UK or Canada)

[q_dicted]

Thank you! Your answer makes me realize I left some necessary details out of my question. My character is in the US, talking with people in the US. Were you able to video chat or voice only? Video is the important element for me.

[jordinothepizza]

According to this infographic, there was a version available for Mac in 2006.

I recall using Skype to show off my then-new apartment in 2007 to people. My friends were all pretty familiar with it. My parents and other people who had to travel for work/had relatives in other countries were more familiar with it that others in their age group.

[q_dicted]

That's a great graphic, thanks!

[liliaeth]

let's see, my sister's kid is four and a half now. My sister was using Skype, and trying to talk us into using it around the time she got pregnant with her, which would have been around 2008. So... some people would have had it, but not everyone.

[xennous]

I remember downloading Skype very soon after buying my first Macbook in early 2008. I remember it was getting pretty popular with my friends then, as AIM and other IM clients were starting to decline in usage. For the record, I had just graduated high school at the time. It was great for my parents, who always wanted to video chat me at college (much to my dismay). So yeah, I don't think it would be anachronistic at all.

[dragonimp]

I used Skype on a Mac for a class in ... 2007, 2008? I graduated in 2009 and I know it wasn't my final year. So it was widespread enough for people to go "hey, why don't we use this for our weekly meetings."

[q_dicted]

Was this video? That's the important thing for me.

[dragonimp]

We weren't using it, but the video function was there.

[q_dicted]

Excellent! Thanks so much.