Skype, once a leading video-calling platform and a pioneer of internet communication, has officially shut down today, May 5, 2025. This marks the end of an era, after nearly 22 years of connecting people across the globe.

Launched in 2003, Skype quickly became a revolutionary tool for offering free voice and video calls over the internet. At its peak in the mid-2010s, it boasted over 300 million monthly users. The free platform significantly changed how people communicated across borders long before the rise of competitors like Zoom or FaceTime.

Read also: How strategic visibility is redefining brand success

Microsoft acquired Skype in 2011 for $8.5bn to make it a core component of its communications strategy. However, its popularity waned as competing platforms such as WhatsApp, Zoom and as well as Microsoft’s own communication and collaboration platform, ‘Teams’, all gained traction.

Microsoft officially announced on February 28 that it would retire Skype on May 5. This decision was made to streamline its services and prioritise Teams for communication and collaboration. The shutdown will impact both free and paid Skype users, although Skype for Business is expected to continue temporarily.

Watch: ICYMI: Top IMC Highlights in March 2025

For existing users, Microsoft has encouraged a transition to Teams. Users can visit skype.com and use the “Start using Teams” feature. Importantly, all Skype chats and contacts will remain accessible through Teams when using the same login credentials. Users have a deadline of January 2026 to download or migrate their data before it is permanently deleted. Microsoft Teams for free offers a seamless chat and calling experience, enhanced video meetings, and secure file sharing and cloud storage. This move underscores Microsoft’s focus on Teams as its primary communication and collaboration platform going forward.