So there remains a huge potential for growth

Niklas Zennström runs Skype Technologies, Publisher of the software of the same name Internet telephony. After the system of exchange of digital files KaZaA, Niklas Zennström created Skype in 2003. He, whose software has been downloaded more than 130 million times, was purchased a year ago by eBay for 2.6 billion (over 1.3 billion objectives). Last week, eBay moved Yahoo! us and Google in the rest of the world to propose a sponsored links to call a dealer by clicking a button ("click to call").

After the agreements signed between eBay, Yahoo! and Google, is Skype set to the difference

No, this is not the case. In fact, this is how this will work. A search on Google or Yahoo!, will appear on the right of the screen of the sponsored links containing a voice call button. By clicking on this button, you will be put in relation to the dealer. Telephony technology will be that Yahoo!, Google or Skype, based on the software usually uses the user. It is a bit like Internet browsers. You must define what is your default browser, which will launch then automatically when connecting. For voice over Internet software, it will be the same thing. This is the meaning of Google and its motto "Don't be Evil" "Do not evil" , letting the user choose!

According to an analyst with RBC Capital Markets, the growth of Skype is slow. Are you able to reach 200 million in sales this year

Our goal is always to achieve $ 200 million this year. We also want to be profitable in the fourth quarter and we are already in the balance. During our first two years, we have recorded accelerated growth. But it is impossible to double the number of users all the time. Today, we record a more linear growth, but it continues to be very strong, with 200,000 new users a day. Last Thursday, 7 million people are connected simultaneously.

In France, we have 5 million users, of which 10 are paying, which is equivalent to the rest of Europe. In my view, this represents one-fifth of French Internet users. So, there remains a huge potential for growth.

But you have done that 79.3 million in the first half...

Yes, but there are strong seasonality in our activity. Traditionally, the last two quarters of the year are the most important. We are very confident. You know, we have seen the arrival of large competitors in the Internet telephony market lately with Google, Yahoo! and Microsoft. But this did not affect the growth of our user base.

What are the projects of development of Skype

We announced the launch next in cordless telephones that use Skype even when the computer is turned off. I think that there are also opportunities in the market of mobile phones GSM and Wi - Fi. We will soon announce a version of Skype for Symbian and Windows Mobile operating systems equipped with telephone. And other things will soon arrive.

Can you tell us a little more about your new Business Project Venice

I am an entrepreneur and, as such, I have ideas on things to create. But I cannot comment at this time on the project. For the time being, nothing exists and there is no timetable.