Microsoft has pulled the plug on Skype, its text and voice messaging app, after over two decades. The tech giant announced the shutdown in February, giving users until May 5 to switch to Microsoft Teams or export their chat history.
The free version of Teams has taken over Skype’s features, allowing users to log in with their existing credentials and transfer their contacts and chats seamlessly. This move marks the end of Skype’s ability to make calls to regular national or international phone numbers – a feature that was once a major draw.
In the early 2000s, Skype’s ability to make free calls was a game-changer. However, with the rise of smartphones and apps like FaceTime and WhatsApp, its popularity began to wane. The pandemic further accelerated this decline, as users turned to alternatives like Zoom for video conferencing.
Skype was born on August 29, 2003, in Tallinn, Estonia. Microsoft acquired it in 2011 for a whopping $8.5 billion. According to Jeff Teper, president of Microsoft 365’s collaborative apps and platforms, the company has learned a lot from Skype and applied those lessons to Teams over the past seven or eight years.
What Led to Skype’s Demise?
Microsoft’s decision to shut down Skype was likely driven by a desire to simplify its offerings and focus on innovation. Teper explained that by concentrating on Teams, the company can deliver more innovation faster and be more straightforward for its customers.
Some key factors that contributed to Skype’s decline include:
- The rise of smartphones and alternative messaging apps
- The pandemic-driven shift to video conferencing tools like Zoom
- Microsoft’s efforts to consolidate its messaging and collaboration tools under Teams
As Microsoft phases out Skype, users will need to adapt to the change. The transition to Teams is designed to be smooth, with users able to log in with their existing credentials and access their chat history.