Server overloads and a bug in Skype for Windows caused the two-day outage is to net phone firm.
Details of what caused the service to be obsolete for millions of users previous to XMas have been posted on the firm's blog.
The two events amalgamated to emanate a gush of problems that managed to wallop out ample of the network underpinning the phone service.
Skype is assessing how its network is built to end the complaint recurring.
Writing on the Skype blog, Lars Rabbe , arch data executive at the company, mentioned the problems proposed on 22 December, when a few of its servers that hoop present messaging proposed getting overloaded.
This meant that the responses they sent to Windows machines running Skype were somewhat delayed. Unfortunately, a bug in one chronicle of Skype for Windows meant this check caused the module to crash.
About 50% of all Skype users ran the cart 5.0.0.152 chronicle of the software, mentioned Mr Rabbe.
This caused problems for Skype since the way the network ancillary it is organised. Some of the data travelling turn Skype's network are transfered by all those machines logged on to the service.
Those participating machines deed as what Skype calls "supernodes" and bring out a few of the organizational tasks of the universal network and help to make sure calls obtain through.
With a outrageous number of these machines offline since the crash, the rest of the network rapidly became overloaded.
Mr Rabbe wrote that the disappearance of the supernodes meant the outstanding ones were swamped by traffic.
"The primary crashes happened only before our standard every day peak-hour and really before long after the primary crash," wrote Mr Rabbe, "which resulted in traffic to the supernodes that was about 100 times what would routinely be approaching at that time of day."
Traffic levels were so high that they blew by the protected working specifications supernodes often use. As a result, more supernodes close down.
The "confluence of events", mentioned Mr Rabbe, led to Skype being offline for about 24 hours as engineers put in place hundreds of dedicated supernodes and steadily brought the service back to life.
To make sure the outage does not come about again, Mr Rabbe mentioned Skype would look at its refurbish policy, to see if it should automatically pierce users to newer versions of its software.
A chronicle of Skype for Windows that is giveaway of the bug already exists, but is not automatically given to users.
It mentioned it would moreover look at its network to upgrade ability and obtain on with an investment programme that would speed up this resilience.
Mr Rabbe apologised once again on interest of the firm and added: "We know that you fell partial in both fulfilling your expectations and communicating with you during this incident."
Skype has offering reward to customers in the form of vouchers for pre-pay users and a giveaway week of service for subscribers.
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