Key points
- Skype grew quickly in the early 2000s
- The app ended up in Microsoft’s hands in 2011
- Skype lost steam as people adopted smartphones
ISLAMABAD: In a decision that marks the end of an era for a platform that had long been a go-to service for both personal and professional communication, Skype has announced it will be shutting down in May.
The iconic internet chat and phone service owned by Microsoft.
The company shared the news on X (formerly Twitter) on Friday, marking the end of an era for a platform that started in 2003 and had long been a go-to service for both personal and professional communication.
“Starting in May 2025, Skype will no longer be available,” the announcement read. “Over the coming days, you can sign in to Microsoft Teams Free with your Skype account to stay connected with all your chats and contacts. Thank you for being part of Skype.”
Starting in May 2025, Skype will no longer be available. Over the coming days you can sign in to Microsoft Teams Free with your Skype account to stay connected with all your chats and contacts. Thank you for being part of Skype pic.twitter.com/EZ2wJLOQ1a
— Skype (@Skype) February 28, 2025
Anadolu News Agency reported that with Teams, users will have access to the same core features they use in Skype, such as one-on-one calls and group calls, messaging, and file sharing.
“We’ve learned”
On Friday, Microsoft also announced that the calling and messaging service would shut down on May 5.
“We’ve learned a lot from Skype over the years that we’ve put into Teams as we’ve evolved teams over the last seven to eight years,” Jeff Teper, president of Microsoft 365 collaborative apps and platforms, said in an interview with CNBC.
“But we felt like now is the time because we can be simpler for the market, for our customer base, and we can deliver more innovation faster just by being focused on Teams.”
The company will stop selling monthly Skype subscriptions, and users with credits can keep using them in Teams.
“This is obviously a big, big moment for us, and we’re certainly very grateful in many ways,” Teper said. “Skype pioneered audio and video calling on the web for many, many people.”
