Microsoft has announced that it was shutting down Skype, the internet-based phone and video service that was once the dominant way of staying connected in the mid-2000s.
Skype will “no longer be available” to use starting in May, the company confirmed on X ( formerly Twitter).
They notified users that their log-in information can be used on Microsoft Teams’ free tier in the “coming days.”
Skype’s shutdown came 14 years after Microsoft bought the service for $8.5 billion in cash, marking the company’s largest ever acquisition at the time.
Microsoft integrated the service into its other products, such as Office and its ill-fated mobile operating service Windows Phone.
“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,” the president of Microsoft 365 collaborative apps and platforms, Jeff Teper said in a blog post.
“We’re excited about the new opportunities that Teams brings and are committed to helping you stay connected in new and meaningful ways.”
Skype’s popularity has faded in recent years, despite a pandemic bounce that lifted other competing products, including Zoom, Google Meet and Cisco Webex.
Skype has also faced increased competition over the last decade and a half from apps like Apple’s FaceTime and Meta’s WhatsApp. Plus, Microsoft has been investing heavily in Teams, which offers many of the same services.
