Our reporter
Microsoft has announced that it will be retiring Skype, the once-groundbreaking voice and video calling platform, by May 2025. The tech giant, which acquired Skype in 2011, is directing users towards its more recent communication service, Microsoft Teams.
Launched in 2003 by Scandinavian entrepreneurs Niklas Zennström and Janus Friis, Skype transformed internet communication, offering free calls between computers and low-cost options for calling mobile and landline numbers. It quickly gained popularity, reaching 50 million registered users by 2005.
However, the rise of competitors such as Zoom, WhatsApp, and even Microsoft’s own Teams has seen Skype’s prominence wane in recent years.
Jeff Teper, president of Microsoft 365 collaborative apps and platforms, explained the decision, stating: “We’ve learnt a lot from Skype… but now is the time to simplify things for our customers and focus on Teams.”
While Microsoft has assured users that existing group chats will remain intact in the transition to Teams, one significant change is the removal of Skype’s telephony features. This means users will no longer be able to make calls to regular phone numbers, a move Microsoft attributes to shifting communication trends and cheaper mobile data plans.
Skype’s legacy remains significant, having pioneered online voice and video communication long before today’s messaging giants emerged. Yet, with its retirement on the horizon, an era of digital communication officially comes to a close.
