Jakarta, Indonesia Sentinel — Microsoft has announced that it will shut down Skype on May 5, 2025, ending the 23-year run of the once-dominant internet calling and video platform.
“We understand this is a major change for Skype users, and we deeply appreciate their support and the lessons that have helped shape Teams over the past seven years,” said Jeff Teper, President of Microsoft 365 Collaborative Apps and Platforms, as reported by TechCrunch.
Following the shutdown, Microsoft will transition Skype users to the free version of Microsoft Teams. Skype will officially cease operations on May 5, 2025.
“We believe now is the right time, as we can offer a simpler service for the market, our customer base, and drive faster innovation by focusing solely on Teams,” Teper added.
Microsoft Teams Transitions
In the coming days, Microsoft will allow users to sign into Teams with their Skype accounts, and their contacts and chat history will be transferred to Teams. Users will also have the option to export their Skype data.
Skype users have 10 weeks to decide their next steps regarding their accounts. During this transition period, users can download the Teams app and log in with their Skype credentials, where all chats and contacts will be automatically migrated.
If users take no action before May 5, Skype has stated that their data will be retained until the end of the year before being permanently deleted.
While the free version of Teams offers additional features not available on Skype, such as calendar integration, it lacks some of Skype’s hallmark capabilities, including the ability to call mobile and landline numbers and receive calls via a Skype phone number.
The number of users affected by the shutdown remains unclear. The last time Microsoft disclosed Skype’s user base was in 2023, reporting more than 36 million active users.
The End of Skype
Skype shut downs comes 14 years after Microsoft acquired the service for $8.5 billion in cash, a deal that was the company’s largest acquisition at the time. Microsoft integrated Skype into several of its products, including Office and the now-defunct Windows Phone operating system.
Skype’s popularity has waned in recent years, despite experiencing a surge during the pandemic. Competing platforms like Zoom, Google Meet, and Cisco Webex benefited from the demand for remote communication tools.
Skype has also faced increasing competition over the past 15 years from services like Apple’s FaceTime and Meta’s WhatsApp. Meanwhile, Microsoft has heavily invested in Teams, which offers many similar features.
“Skype has played a crucial role in shaping modern communication and has supported many meaningful moments. We are honored to have been part of that journey,” Teper wrote in a blog post.
He added that Microsoft is excited about the new opportunities with Teams and remains committed to helping users stay connected in new ways.
Read Also:
Over 14,000 New Crop Seed Samples Added to the Svalbard’s ‘Doomsday Vault’
A Brief History of Skype
Founded in Estonia in 2003, Skype quickly gained popularity as a cost-effective way to make international calls at a time when traditional phone services charged high fees for long-distance communication.
Its rapid success led eBay to acquire Skype in 2005 for $2.6 billion. However, the partnership did not work out, and eBay sold 65% of its stake to a group of investors for $1.9 billion in 2009. Microsoft then acquired Skype in 2011.
With its shut down now set for 2025, Skype will join the list of once-revolutionary tech platforms that eventually faded as new innovations took center stage.
(Raidi/Agung)
