Microsoft Announces Closure of Skype Service After Two Decades

Skype is set to shut down in May 2025 after over 20 years of operation. Microsoft, the owner of Skype, has urged users to switch to its Teams app. At its peak, Skype had hundreds of millions of users but has since dropped to around 30 million, losing ground to competitors like Zoom and WhatsApp.

Skype, the renowned video call platform owned by Microsoft, will officially discontinue its services in May 2025, marking the end of its two-decade legacy. The announcement was made via a post on platform X, encouraging current users to transition to Microsoft Teams, another communication application developed by the company. Founded in 2003 by Niklas Zennström and Janus Friis, Skype revolutionized internet communication by allowing free voice and video calls, particularly benefiting international users through cost savings.

At its height, Skype boasted hundreds of millions of monthly users globally; however, this number has diminished significantly in recent years, falling to approximately 30 million active users per month, according to Similarweb statistics. While Skype enabled users to make voice and video calls, it required Skype credit or a subscription for calls to landlines and mobile phones. Microsoft acquired Skype in 2011 for $8.5 billion, incorporating its functionalities into Windows and Office.

Despite this integration, Skype faced fierce competition from rival services like Zoom and WhatsApp. Consequently, Microsoft Teams, launched in 2017, has emerged as a dominant player in the collaboration software sector and is integral to organizational communication strategies.

In summary, Skype will cease its operations in May 2025, concluding its 20-year run as a pioneer in online communication. Despite a significant user base in its early years, the platform has struggled to maintain relevancy amid increasing competition. Microsoft now encourages users to migrate to Teams, where it hopes to retain its audience within the corporate communication domain.

Original Source: gna.org.gh