End Of An Era: Microsoft To Shutdown Skype

Farewell Skype, the end of an era! Yes, you heard it right.

Microsoft will pull the strings from Skype in May 2025. The business is pushing users to adopt Microsoft Teams, which has become the go-to platform for chats and video meetings.

In fact, Microsoft has promised a smooth transition from Skype to Team. They stated that users can log in with their current credentials, and all messages, contacts, and group chats will carry forward automatically.

Microsoft informed users by writing a post on X; they said, "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."

During the transition, Skype and Teams users will be able to connect with one another via both platforms. Additionally, users who do not desire to move to Teams can export their Skype data, including conversations, contacts, and call history, prior to the shutdown.

Reason behind the shutdown

Created in 2003 by Niklas Zennström and Janus Friis, alongside four Estonian developers, Skype has certainly changed the meaning of online communication.

Skype was formerly the pioneer of online communication, with 660 million users in 2010. However, as newer platforms such as Zoom, WhatsApp, and FaceTime emerged, the app's popularity began to wane.

By 2015, the platform's user base had shrunk to more than half, and by 2020, it had declined even more to 100 million. Thus, the shutdown is undoubtedly the result of a dwindling customer base.

Microsoft in the blog post thanked everyone for being part of Skype and said, "We also understand that change can be challenging and want you to know that we’re here to support you every step of the way. We’re excited about the new opportunities that Teams brings and are committed to helping you stay connected in new and meaningful ways."