They have killed off Skype.
Skype, once a leading platform for video communication, is being officially discontinued by Microsoft as of Monday. The company announced the decision earlier this year, stating that retiring Skype will allow them to streamline their communication services and focus on Microsoft Teams, their more modern collaboration tool.
To make the shift easier for users, Microsoft is enabling a seamless transition to the free version of Teams. Existing Skype users can log in using their current credentials, with their chat history and contact lists automatically transferred to the new platform. In a statement, Microsoft executive Jeff Teper expressed appreciation for Skype’s role in shaping digital communication and acknowledged its impact over the years.
For users who prefer not to migrate to Teams, Microsoft is offering the option to export their Skype data. However, any accounts left inactive will be erased by January 2026, according to the company’s website.
Skype, which debuted in 2003, was acquired by Microsoft in 2011 for $8.5 billion when it had around 150 million monthly users. However, its popularity declined over the years, particularly as competitors like Zoom gained traction during the COVID-19 pandemic. By 2020, Skype’s user base had dropped to about 23 million.
One of the major reasons for Skype’s fall was its outdated infrastructure, which struggled to keep up with the demands of mobile communication. In contrast, Microsoft Teams—launched in 2017—has seen massive adoption and now boasts approximately 320 million active monthly users. Microsoft has confirmed that no layoffs will result from the Skype shutdown.
