Microsoft Announces Skype Retirement, Directing Users to Microsoft Teams
Microsoft has declared the end of the line for Skype, its long-standing video calling service. The tech giant plans to retire the platform in May 2025, citing a desire to “streamline” its communication options. Skype users are being prompted to move to Microsoft Teams, with the assurance that their existing chats, contacts, and call history will be readily available there. For those hesitant about the shift, there’s an opportunity to export their Skype data before the service is shut down.
A statement released by the Skype team confirmed the impending closure: “Starting in May 2025, Skype will no longer be available.” The announcement further reassured users, stating: “Over the coming days you can sign in to Microsoft Teams Free with your Skype account to stay connected with all your chats and contacts. Thank you for being part of Skype.”
The decision comes more than a decade after Microsoft’s $8.5 billion acquisition of Skype in 2011. Microsoft explained that the move to “streamline” its communication tools reflects the considerable changes in how people interact, from instant messaging to video calls. The update, as reported in the Mirror, suggests a pivot towards a more unified communications approach.
Microsoft emphasized, “From instant messaging to video calls, technology has continuously transformed how we connect with each other. In order to streamline our free consumer communications offerings so we can more easily adapt to customer needs, we will be retiring Skype in May 2025 to focus on Microsoft Teams (free), our modern communications and collaboration hub.”
Teams is being presented as an effective substitute, providing many of the same core functions available in Skype, such as one-on-one and group calls, messaging, and file sharing. In addition, Microsoft Teams offers enhanced features like organizing meetings, managing calendars, as well as creating and joining communities at no cost.
According to Microsoft, “Hundreds of millions of people already use Teams as their hub for teamwork, helping them stay connected and engaged at work, school, and at home. In the past two years, the number of minutes spent in meetings by consumer users of Teams has grown 4X, reflecting the value Teams brings to everyday communication and collaboration.”
Microsoft is optimistic about the shift, adding, “As we take this next step with Teams, we’re excited about the opportunities ahead. We look forward to continuing to support people’s everyday connections, starting by making it easy to log into Teams with their Skype account.”
Individuals with active Skype subscriptions can continue using their Skype Credits and subscriptions until the end of their renewal term. Any remaining credit balance can also be used. The news has met with some resistance, with some users expressing their dissatisfaction and vowing not to switch to Teams. One user shared their thoughts, saying, “Goodbye Skype we will miss you. While you were not perfect, you were 1,000,000x better than teams.”
