Microsoft has announced that it will be shutting down Skype, the 21-year-old internet-based phone and video service that once led digital communication. The company made the announcement on Friday through a statement on X (formerly Twitter), advising Skype users to switch to the free Microsoft Teams app.
“Starting in May 2025, Skype will no longer be available. In the coming days, users will be able to sign in to Microsoft Teams Free using their Skype account to stay connected with all chats and contacts,” the statement read.
This decision comes 14 years after Microsoft purchased Skype for $8.5 billion, which was its largest cash acquisition at the time. The aim was to expand its communication offerings.
Following the acquisition, Skype was integrated into Microsoft’s larger ecosystem, including Office and the now-defunct Windows Phone platform. However, despite a brief resurgence during the pandemic, Skype has struggled to maintain its user base, falling behind competitors like Zoom and Google Meet.
Skype was created in 2003 by Janus Friis and Niklas Zennström, the co-founders of Kazaa, with support from a group of former classmates who had no prior experience in telecommunications.
