Microsoft has now confirmed that Skype would be discontinued on May 5, 2025, closing down one of the internet’s most recognizable communications platforms. Microsoft is doing this because the company is moving all its focus to Microsoft Teams, a product that has been replacing the services of Skype since the last several years.
Skype once dominated voice and video calls over the internet, enabling users to call anyone around the globe for free. Its popularity has been gradually declining, particularly after Microsoft bought Skype in 2011 for $8.5 billion. Microsoft Teams, launched in 2016, marked the start of the downfall of Skype as it boasted more integrated communication service with features including messaging, video conferencing, and third-party apps support.
Though Skype was updated several times, it was not in a position to rival new platforms such as Zoom, WhatsApp, and Discord, particularly when the COVID-19 pandemic was happening, when video calling services gained massive popularity. Microsoft sunsetting Skype is a result of the company having to consolidate its communications under a single brand, that of Teams, which has seen wide use in business and private communications.
According to Jeff Teper, President of Microsoft 365 collaborative apps and platforms, as reported by Tech Crunch, the move will allow Microsoft to focus on faster innovation and a simpler experience for users. “We know this is a big deal for our Skype users, and we’re very grateful for their support over the years,” Teper said.
The users will be given 10 weeks’ notice to migrate contacts and chat history to Teams prior to the shutdown. the company stated that whatever was left of the Skype credits would also be redeemable on Teams, and an export tool would be found in Teams where users could export Skype conversations.
Whereas Skype boasted more than 300 million active subscribers in the past, recent estimates indicate that the figure has reduced to a mere 36 million. The closing represents the end of an era for one of the first digital pioneers of communication as the company throws its full weight behind Teams as its future go-to communications tool.
