After more than two decades as a pioneer in online communication, Microsoft is shutting down Skype, acknowledging its role in shaping digital communication [1], [2], [3]. Users can access Teams with their existing credentials, and contacts and chat history will be automatically transferred.
Users will be able to log in to Teams with their Skype credentials, and the chat history from the app will be transferred as well.
Skype was founded in Estonia in 2003 and quickly became popular for its use of VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol), enabling free online voice and video calls—an innovation in international communication at the time. Its popularity led to significant acquisitions: eBay bought it in 2005 for €2.3 billion, sold its majority stake in 2009, and finally, Microsoft acquired it in 2011 for €7.5 billion—its largest acquisition at that time.
By 2013, Skype had 300 million active users and had become so widespread that its name became synonymous with online calls (like Google for search). However, over the years, Skype lost ground to emerging competitors such as WhatsApp (Meta) and FaceTime (Apple), and during the pandemic, it failed to regain its dominance as apps like Zoom and Webex grew. Microsoft ultimately replaced Skype for Business with Teams and shifted its development focus to that platform.
☁️ Skype is retiring in May 2025, and we want to make sure you have enough time to make a decision. If you see your friends already using Microsoft Teams Free it’s a good time to give it a go. You can also export your data if you do not wish to make the move.
❓ If you have… pic.twitter.com/InR34mCc5d
— Skype (@Skype) April 24, 2025
