KEY POINTS:
Skype, the popular voice over IP (VoIP) client, is not letting users sign in, but the company says it will be back online within 12-24 hours.
"The Skype system has not crashed or been victim of a cyber attack," a statement on the company's website says.
It recommends users to leave their Skype client running, and as soon as the problem is fixed, they'll automatically be logged in.
Planned system maintenance yesterday was completed, but today users have been struggling to sign in.
"This problem occurred because of a deficiency in an algorithm within Skype networking software. This controls the interaction between the users own Skype client and the rest of the Skype network.
"Rest assured that everyone at Skype is working around the clock from Tallinn to Luxembourg to San Jose - to resume normal service as quickly as possible."
Skype is used by many to make toll-calls without normal Telecom charges, and is available for most operating systems. Downloads are temporarily suspended while present problems with the usually-reliable Skype are fixed.
- NZ HERALD STAFF
