Microsoft to Shut Down Skype, Directing Users to Microsoft Teams
Microsoft is set to retire its video-calling service, Skype, in May 2025. The tech giant, which acquired Skype for USD 8.5 billion in 2011, will instead focus its consumer communications efforts on its flagship video-conferencing platform, Microsoft Teams.
Skype, originally launched in 2003 by Estonian engineers as a way for people to make phone calls over the internet, became a pioneer in the field. Its evolution included video calls after eBay acquired the service in 2005. By 2011, when Microsoft took over, Skype had approximately 170 million users globally, as then-Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer noted.
“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,” Microsoft stated in a blog post.
Transition for Skype Users
What does this mean for Skype users? During this transition, users have two primary options:
- Move to Microsoft Teams for Free: Skype users will soon be able to log into Teams (free) using their Skype credentials across supported devices. Existing chats and contacts will automatically appear in Teams. Teams users will be able to call and chat with Skype users, who can also connect with Teams users, ensuring continuous communication.
- Export Your Skype Data: If preferred, users can opt to export their Skype data, including chats, contacts, and call history.
Skype will remain operational until May 5, 2025, allowing users time to explore Teams and make a decision.
Microsoft emphasized its commitment to help users through the transition via a statement: “We’re excited about the new opportunities that Teams brings and are committed to helping you stay connected in new and meaningful ways.”
While the decision may be a surprise to some, Microsoft has gradually been prioritizing Teams over Skype for years. Teams offers many of the same core features as Skype, but with enhanced collaboration tools. In recent years, the usage of Teams has grown immensely with the number of minutes spent in meetings by consumer users of Teams growing four-fold.
