SEATTLE — Microsoft announced Friday that it will retire its free Skype application for voice and video calls, shifting users to Microsoft Teams.
Microsoft stated that the move is due to significant advancements in communication technology and a desire to streamline its services. Skype, initially launched in 2003 and acquired by Microsoft in 2011, will remain operational until May 5th.
“With Teams, users have access to many of the same core features they use in Skype, such as one-on-one calls and group calls, messaging and file sharing,” Microsoft said in a statement. Beyond these features, Teams also offers the ability to host meetings, manage calendars, and participate in free communities.
Microsoft highlighted the growing popularity of Teams, noting that its usage has quadrupled over the last two years. To ease the transition, users can log into Teams using their existing Skype accounts, with their chats and contacts automatically transferring to the Teams app.
Prior to the complete shutdown, Skype and Teams users will maintain the ability to communicate with each other. Additionally, users who choose not to migrate to Teams can export their data to retain it outside the system.
