Skype ceases operations following a 22-year run, urging users to transition to Microsoft Teams instead.
Microsoft vice chair and president Brad Smith opens up about the company's AI investment plan during an interview on 'Mornings with Maria'.
The end is near for Skype as Microsoft decides to call it quits on this once-popular video calling platform. The final date for its demise is set for May 5th, a decision that Microsoft announced back in February.
Users won't be left hanging, as they'll have the option to log into the free version of Microsoft Teams using their existing credentials. Migrating chats and contacts will be a breeze, ensuring a smooth transition for Skype lovers.
Microsoft president of collaborative apps and platforms, Jeff Tepper, shared his feelings about Skype's departure, saying, "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."
SKYPE TO CEASE OPERATIONS AFTER 14-YEAR RUN
MSFT
If Microsoft Teams doesn't tickle your fancy, fear not! You can choose to export your Skype data before the official goodbye. Procrastinators beware: in January 2026, any remaining data will be wiped clean, according to Microsoft's official statement.
MICROSOFT CORP.
Skype made its grand entrance in 2003. When Microsoft acquired it in 2011 for an astronomical $8.5 billion, the service boasted roughly 150 million monthly users. By 2020, however, the surge of Zoom during the pandemic shrunk that number to approximately 23 million[^1^].
435.28
The decline was partly due to Skype's outdated underlying technology, which was ill-equipped for the smartphone era.
9.88
[^1^]: Although the exact 2011 user count isn't clearly stated in the available reports, Skype had already carved out a significant space in the global communication market. By 2011, it was handling over 40% of international call minutes[^5^], but the active user count wasn't specifically quantified.
2.32%
With Microsoft Teams estimated to have about 320 million monthly active users in 2021, the shift from Skype to Teams seems a strategic one, sparked by Skype's inability to keep up with newer, cloud-native platforms.
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This report has contributions from Fox News' Kurt Knutsson, the CyberGuy Report, and Reuters.
- Microsoft's decision to shut down Skype on May 5th will prompt users to migrate their chats and contacts to the free version of Microsoft Teams using their existing credentials.
- Jeff Tepper, Microsoft president of collaborative apps and platforms, expressed his sentiments about Skype's departure, acknowledging its significance in shaping modern communications.
- Procrastinators should export their Skype data before the official shutdown in 2026, as any remaining data will be wiped clean after that date.
- The shift from Skype to Microsoft Teams appears to be a strategic move by Microsoft, given that Teams is estimated to have about 320 million monthly active users in 2021, compared to Skype's dwindling user base.
