Skype Officially Shuts Down After 22 Years of Service
On May 5, 2025, Microsoft officially retired Skype, concluding over two decades of pioneering service in internet-based voice and video communication. Launched in 2003, Skype revolutionized digital communication by enabling free computer-to-computer calls and later introducing video conferencing features. Microsoft acquired Skype in 2011 for $8.5 billion, integrating it into its suite of communication tools. The decision to discontinue Skype stems from a significant decline in its user base, which dropped from a peak of 300 million monthly users in 2016 to 36 million daily users by 2023. This decline was attributed to the emergence of competitors like Zoom, WhatsApp, and Microsoft's own Teams platform. Transition to Microsoft Teams Microsoft is directing users to transition to Microsoft Teams, which offers similar functionalities and allows users to sign in with their existing Skype credentials. Contacts and chat histories will be automatically […]