Today I couldn’t connect to Skype after upgrading the Windows client to its latest version: 5.0.0.156, before that it was working without bugs, now it never logins.
Skype website reported:
0 people online right now.
Skype is now gradually returning to normal, they expect it may take several hours for everyone to be able to sign in again.
Skype explanation about the downtime today
(Source) Earlier today, everybody noticed that the number of people online on Skype was falling, which wasn’t typical or expected, so Skype engineers began to investigate.
Skype isn’t a network like a conventional phone or IM network – instead, it relies on millions of individual connections between computers and phones to keep things up and running. Some of these computers are what we call supernodes – they act a bit like phone directories for Skype. If you want to talk to someone, and your Skype app can’t find them immediately (for example, because they’re connecting from a different location or from a different device) your computer or phone will first try to find a supernode to figure out how to reach them.
Under normal circumstances, there are a large number of supernodes available. Unfortunately, today, many of them were taken offline by a problem affecting some versions of Skype. As Skype relies on being able to maintain contact with supernodes, it may appear offline for some of you.
What are is Skype doing to help? Their engineers are creating new mega-supernodes as fast as they can, which should gradually return things to normal. This may take a few hours, and they sincerely apologize for the disruption to your conversations. Some features, like group video calling, may take longer to return to normal.