It’s last call for Skype, the internet-based phone and video platform so dominant in the mid-2000s that it became a verb.
The impending shutdown was confirmed in a statement released Friday by Jeff Teper, president of Microsoft 365’s collaborative apps and platforms. He revealed that Skype will “no longer be available” for use as of May 5, citing efforts to “streamline our free consumer communications offerings so we can more easily adapt to customer needs.”
As an alternative, Skype users are being urged to switch over to Microsoft Teams Free. In the coming days, they’ll be able to log in to the platform using their Skype credentials, at which point all of their “chats and contacts will automatically appear in the app,” allowing them to “quickly pick up where [they] left off,” according to Teper.
In the weeks before Skype is shuttered, “Teams users can call and chat with Skype users and Skype users can do the same with Teams users,” Teper said. “This helps ensure you can stay connected with everyone, regardless of the platform you’re using during this transition.”
Skypers who do not want to migrate to Teams will still be allowed to export their data, “including chats, contacts and call history,” until the video platform turns inactive.
“The way we communicate has evolved significantly over the years,” Teper said. “From instant messaging to video calls, technology has continuously transformed how we connect with each other.”
Still, Teams provides many of the core features that made Skype a household name, including one-on-one and group calls, messaging and file sharing, in addition to “enhanced features like hosting meetings, managing calendars, and building and joining communities for free.”
Founded in 2003, Skype quickly became the go-to means of connection with its audio and video call features, raking in some 54 million users in its first two years, according to CNBC. It was eventually acquired by eBay before Microsoft purchased the platform for $8.5 billion in 2011.
Shortly thereafter, smartphones began their rise to prominence, cutting into Skype’s territory. It continued to lose ground in recent years as users flocked to competing services like FaceTime and WhatsApp. By the time the COVID pandemic hit, most people preferred using Zoom.
As of 2023, Skype had an estimated 36 million users, a meager figure considering it boasted some 300 million accounts at its peak, Tech Crunch reported, citing Microsoft’s most recent numbers.
“Skype has been an integral part of shaping modern communications and supporting countless meaningful moments, and we are honored to have been part of the journey,” Teper 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,” he concluded. “We’re excited about the new opportunities that Teams brings and are committed to helping you stay connected in new and meaningful ways.”