Microsoft has announced it will officially discontinue its popular communication service, Skype, starting May 5, 2025, marking the end of the platform after 22 years. The decision reflects Microsoft's strategic shift to focus solely on Microsoft Teams, which has gained immense popularity, especially among business users.
Skype was founded back in 2003 by Swedish entrepreneur Niklas Zennström and Danish businessman Janus Friis. It revolutionized the way people communicate over the internet by making video calls accessible to everyone, amassing a peak user base of approximately 300 million globally. By 2023, active Skype users dwindled to around 36 million, though the exact current number remains unclear.
Jeff Teper, head of Skype at Microsoft, acknowledged the users who supported the application over the years. "Skype has taught us many lessons, which we've leveraged to develop Teams over the past seven years," he said in an interview with TechCrunch.
Starting now, Skype users have roughly ten weeks to decide the fate of their accounts. They can either transfer their contact and chat history over to Teams or download their data before Skype goes offline. This transition will allow users to continue utilizing the messaging features they are accustomed to, albeit on the new platform. The last day the two platforms will work together is May 5, 2025, after which Skype will be functionally defunct.
Despite the strong historical presence of Skype, its relevance had waned over the last several years, particularly during the pandemic when users predominantly shifted to other technology, such as Zoom and Microsoft Teams. Steven Pemberton, a researcher at the Centrum Wiskunde & Informatica Institute, remarked, "Overstappen naar Teams? Oh, afschuwelijk. I had certainly not expected Skype to stop. I was also very surprised during the time of the pandemic with how much Zoom took center stage and Skype was overshadowed. [Skype] should have been prepared for the pandemic. A missed opportunity for Microsoft, really."
Pemberton noted the innovative beginnings and unique experiences he encountered during the early days of Skype. "I distinctly recall celebrating my birthday with my children who called me via Skype. Those were memorable moments during the infancy of video calling, and now it seems lost," he added. He expressed his dissatisfaction with Teams as well, claiming, "I know many people who are compelled to use it through work, but I hear numerous complaints. I absolutely won't use it. At this point, I opt for Zoom or Google Meets."
Created as user-friendly software for audio and video calls, Skype was once heralded as one of the prime messaging tools globally. Its peak usage, largely due to word-of-mouth and its adaptability to both personal and business communication, helped it thrive for years. But later technological advancements and competition began to overshadow Skype's initial success.
Microsoft's acquisition of Skype for $8.5 billion seemed promising at first. But over time, Microsoft increasingly channeled its efforts toward developing Teams rather than revitalizing Skype. Plans to phase out the business version of Skype began circulating as early as 2017, and by 2021, Teams had become the integrated chat service within Windows 11, taking the place of Skype.
The upcoming transition phase ends what was once considered one of the most groundbreaking communication platforms, leaving many users and tech experts weighing their options as they’re required to migrate to Teams. Users who choose to transition can log on to Teams using their existing Skype accounts, with automatic access to their contacts and chat history seamlessly carrying over.
This strategic decision to end Skype is not entirely surprising, considering the drop-off in user interaction and engagement with the service. Microsoft will maintain interoperability between Teams and Skype until May 5, providing users with enough time to adapt to their new environment without losing continued access to their chat threads and conversations.
While some analysts see this as the inevitable culmination of shifting user preferences, others like Pemberton are left questioning Microsoft's handling of its historic products. "Microsoft has often mishandled popular acquisitions," he commented on Skype's fate. "They buy something immensely popular and then seem unsure how to leverage it properly. Just look at Hotmail, once the largest email platform worldwide, now largely forgotten and replaced by Gmail. The same could happen to Teams if they're not careful."
The fall of Skype marks the closing of an era of internet innovation. With its demise, Microsoft aims to consolidate its resources and focus on Teams, which has become the more business-focused communication tool of choice. The horizon may appear bleak for Skype enthusiasts, but, for now, Microsoft Teams stands ready to fill the void left behind.