Microsoft to Shut Down Skype: A Look at Obsolete Technologies
Microsoft has announced it will be retiring Skype, the video call service that once dominated the market, in May of this year. At its peak, Skype boasted over 300 million users. However, according to the most recent figures released by Microsoft in 2023, that number had dwindled to just over 36 million.
The US tech giant, which acquired Skype for $8.5 billion in 2011, will be shifting some of its services to Microsoft Teams, its leading video conferencing and team application platform. Skype users will be able to use their existing accounts to log into Teams.
What other technologies have faded into obsolescence? From the rise of smartphones to the advent of streaming services, several once-essential pieces of hardware and software have become relics of the past.
Dumb Phones
Smartphones have largely eclipsed old-fashioned mobile phones, which were once limited in their functionality. These early devices were primarily used for making and receiving calls and texts, although some offered basic gaming capabilities like Snake.
Blackberries
Blackberry phones revolutionized mobile communication by including a full keyboard. They were widely used for business communication, including email and messaging services. However, smartphones, with touch screen keyboards, rendered the physical keyboard obsolete.
Landlines
The first telephone call was made in 1876, and the device has evolved significantly over the years. The wired landline, once ubiquitous in homes and offices, has seen a significant decline with the rise of mobile phones.
Floppy Disks
Floppy disks, once the standard for data storage were later replaced by CD-ROMs. However, it lives on as the save icon on current software. Despite their prevalence, floppy disks were susceptible to damage from magnets and heat.
VHS
VHS cassette tapes became the standard for watching films at home from the late 1980s. Rewinding after each viewing was often a time-consuming process. The introduction of DVDs began the slow decline of VHS, ultimately leading to its replacement.
Cassette Tapes
Cassette tapes were the primary method for listening to and recording music from the 1960s onward. They were also utilized for storing data in the early home computers. However, by the 1990s, CDs had surpassed them in sales, eventually leading to their decline.
CDs and DVDs
CDs and DVDs followed VHS and cassettes into obsolescence with the advent of online streaming. The convenience and accessibility of streaming services drove the shift towards digital media, with many consumers now opting for subscription services instead of purchasing individual albums or films.
The Walkman and MP3 Players
Portable music players like the Walkman and MP3 players fell victim to the widespread adoption of smartphones. Smartphones, capable of playing music through integrated apps and streaming services, made dedicated music players largely obsolete.
Pagers
Pagers once alerted individuals that someone was trying to contact them. However, the user then had to locate a landline or phone booth to respond. The advent of mobile phones, offering instant communication, rendered pagers obsolete. Smartphones further revolutionized communication by offering video calls and internet access for instant messaging.
Fax Machines
Fax machines were utilized in offices to send and receive documents, particularly those requiring signatures. They were also capable of transmitting confidential information securely via phone lines, but they were replaced by emails and instant messaging services.
Overhead Projectors
Overhead projectors were used in schools and offices, projecting documents onto a screen to allow a group to view them. Teachers and other presenters used them to display notes and diagrams. Modern projectors and computers made these devices obsolete.
