Tech Desk 
Mar 01, 2025
Microsoft has announced to shut down Skype on May 5, 2025, marking the end of an era for the pioneering messaging and calling platform.
Originally launched in 2003, Skype was acquired by Microsoft 14 years ago in 2011 and had been a leading platform for internet-based communication.
Microsoft 365 President of Collaborative Apps and Platforms Jeff Teper stated: "The decision to shut down Skype is aimed at streamlining the company's focus on Microsoft Teams."
"We're grateful for Skype users' support and the learnings that have factored into Teams over the last seven years," Teper noted, "By putting all our focus behind Teams, we can drive faster innovation and provide a simpler message."
Notably, Skype's user base has declined significantly over the years, from a peak of 300 million users to only 36 million users in 2023.
The rise of smartphones and new messaging apps is one of the reasons behind the decrease in Skype's popularity, with WhatsApp surpassing 2 billion users in 2020.
To help users transition, Microsoft has offered free access to Teams with automatic migration of contacts and chats. The move is not surprising, given Microsoft's increasing focus on Teams since its launch in 2016.
As Skype will remain reachable until May 5, existing users will have around 60 days to decide whether they want to switch to Microsoft Teams or export their data.
