Skype to be shut down

[red750]

Microsoft announced Friday it is shutting down Skype after a 21-year-long run.

 

The tech giant, which bought Skype in 2011, warned users they will not longer have access to their accounts on May 5, 2025 and urged them to migrate to its free Teams app as soon as possible.

Skype's last report showed it had 1.95 billion registered accounts.

 

But Microsoft assured users that Teams will meet their needs with its one-on-one calls and group calls, messaging and file sharing. 

 

Skype shared a message on its X account, saying: '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.'

 

Users can export their Skype data leading up to May, but monthly subscriptions will not longer be sold starting today.

 

Skype launched in 2003 and quickly gained popularity as a way for people to talk to each other without paying a phone company.

 

But once the smartphone-era hit, its users declined and this was exacerbated as similar services such as Zoom and Microsoft Teams gained popularity during the COVID-19 pandemic. 

[pmccarthy]

I find Teams impossible to manage. I have it installed but I am a member of several organisations and it always assumes the wrong one and will not let me into a meeting.