Microsoft to End Skype: Pioneers of Videoconferencing Shutting Down
The era of “Skyping” is coming to an end.
Microsoft is discontinuing Skype, the video-calling service that once revolutionized how people communicate. Microsoft announced the move, which will consolidate its communications offerings around Microsoft Teams, on Friday.
Skype, acquired by Microsoft back in 2011, was an early innovator in internet-based phone calls, effectively bypassing traditional landlines.
Why the Change?
Microsoft’s decision to retire Skype reflects a strategic shift toward prioritizing Teams as its primary communications platform. This move allows the company to streamline its offerings and better compete with other communications platforms.
When is Skype Shutting Down?
Skype is scheduled to be retired in May. Some of its services will be integrated into Microsoft Teams, the company’s leading platform for video conferencing and team collaboration. Existing Skype users will be able to use their current accounts to log into Teams, ensuring a smooth transition.
The Origins of Skype
Skype was first launched in 2003 in Tallinn, Estonia, by a team of engineers. It utilized Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) technology, converting audio into digital signals for online transmission. The platform expanded, introducing video calls after eBay acquired the service in 2005.
Microsoft purchased Skype for a substantial $8.5 billion in 2011.
The Rise of Skype
Skype’s popularity stemmed from its ability to provide high-quality video calls accessible to everyone.
“You no longer had to be a senior manager in a Fortune 500 company to have a good quality video call with someone else,” said Barbara Larson, a management professor at Northeastern University who studies the history of virtual and remote work. “It brought a lot of people around the world closer.”
Skype’s affordability changed long-distance communication, benefiting both startups and individuals.
“You could suddenly have long calls, frequent calls, that were either free or very inexpensive,” Larson said.
In 2011, then-Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer stated that Skype had approximately 170 million users. “The Skype brand has become a verb, nearly synonymous with video and voice communications,” he said.
The Shift to Teams
Although Skype remained a high-tech solution in 2017, Microsoft developed Teams to address the growing demand for workplace chat services, driven by competitors like Slack Technologies. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Teams, Zoom and Slack experienced exponential growth as companies, friends, and families shifted to online communication. Although Skype’s popularity waned, it had already established the foundation for strengthened remote connections.
Source: This report includes information from The Associated Press.
