After more than two decades, Microsoft has announced that it will officially discontinue Skype in May 2025, shifting its users to Microsoft Teams as the company’s primary messaging and video call platform. Current Skype users will be able to log into Teams using their existing credentials, with all their messages, contacts, and group chats migrating automatically. For those who prefer not to transition, Microsoft has assured that they will have the option to export their data and move to another platform.
News of Skype’s shutdown has sparked nostalgia and emotional reactions across social media, particularly on X (formerly Twitter), where users reminisced about its impact. Discord, a platform widely used by gamers, acknowledged Skype’s influence by posting, “Thank you for walking so we could run. RIP to the OG gaming chat app.” Another user reflected on Skype’s decline, writing, “Skype had a 17-year head start and cracked under pressure in 2020. Its fumble during the pandemic will be studied for centuries.” Many shared personal experiences, with one user highlighting Skype’s role in keeping international students connected, saying, “Skype was a savior, making it possible to call home for free when calling cards used to cost $20-25 for just 15 minutes.” Others humorously noted that even NBA star LeBron James has outlasted Skype in relevance.
Once a dominant force in online communication, Skype reached its peak in 2010 with 660 million users. However, competition from platforms like Zoom, Google Meet, FaceTime, WhatsApp, and Facebook Messenger gradually diminished its relevance. By 2015, its active users had dropped to 300 million, and by March 2020, at the height of the pandemic, the number had declined further to just 100 million, as video conferencing alternatives gained popularity. Microsoft, which acquired Skype for $8.5 billion in 2011, now sees little reason to continue the service, especially with Microsoft Teams offering a more integrated experience for both professional and personal use.
Microsoft’s Jeff Teper, president of 365 collaborative apps and platforms, assured users that they will not be forced into Teams if they prefer to move their data elsewhere. However, the company is positioning Teams as a natural successor, emphasizing its seamless transition process for Skype users. With Skype’s discontinuation, an era of internet-based communication history comes to an end, as Microsoft shifts its focus toward a more modern and business-friendly messaging ecosystem.
