Skype, the pioneering video calling app, has announced it will cease operations in May 2025, marking the end of an era for a platform that revolutionized online communication.
In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Skype informed users about the shutdown and encouraged them to transition to Microsoft Teams Free to retain their chats and contacts.
“Starting in May 2025, Skype will no longer be available. Over the coming days, you can sign in to Microsoft Teams Free with your Skype account to stay connected with all your chats and contacts. Thank you for being part of Skype.”
Launched in 2003, Skype played a crucial role in popularizing free computer-to-computer voice and video calls, making international communication more accessible.
Declining Popularity Amid Rising Competition
Despite its early success, Skype has struggled to maintain its relevance in recent years due to fierce competition from WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, Zoom, and Google Meet. A controversial redesign in 2017 received backlash from users, and despite further improvements, the platform’s popularity continued to decline.
Microsoft, which acquired Skype in 2011 for $8.5 billion, has not provided additional comments on the shutdown but has expressed gratitude to the Skype community for their support over the years.
With this move, Microsoft appears to be consolidating its communication platforms under Microsoft Teams, which has seen increased adoption for business and personal use.
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