Microsoft will retire Skype for personal use in May 2025, shifting users toward its newer communication platform, Microsoft Teams (free).
Why it matters
Skype, once a dominant player in video calls and messaging, has seen its relevance fade as Microsoft prioritized Teams and competitors like Zoom and WhatsApp gained traction.
By the numbers
- Skype had 300 million monthly users at its peak but has struggled to grow in the past decade.
- Microsoft acquired Skype for $8.5 billion in 2011 but later integrated much of its functionality into Teams.
What’s next
- Skype will be fully discontinued by May 2025.
- Users are encouraged to switch to Microsoft Teams (free), which includes similar features like chat, video calls, and integration with Microsoft services.
- Business users already on Skype for Business were moved to Teams in 2021.
The big picture
This move is part of Microsoft’s broader push to consolidate its communication tools, betting on Teams as the future of messaging and collaboration.
Source: CNBC
Correction: In our earlier report, we erroneously stated that Skype would be shut down in July. We corrected the official closure to May.
