Farewell Skype: What You Need to Know About Microsoft’s Closure in May After 21 Years

Skype is officially closing its doors after over 20 years. Microsoft is now fully focused on Teams, its new communication platform.

Skype began its journey in August 2003, created by a team of developers in Estonia. The name stands for “Sky Peer to Peer.” This innovative platform allowed users to make voice and video calls for free over the internet, a major leap forward from traditional phone services that charged for long-distance calls.

In 2005, Skype 2.0 introduced video calling, and the platform was acquired by eBay for about $2.5 billion the same year. Soon after, it became one of the first services to offer instant messaging and file sharing, making it easier for friends and families worldwide to stay connected.

Microsoft bought Skype in 2011 for $8.5 billion, and by 2012, it replaced Windows Live Messenger. However, as newer messaging and video calling apps emerged, Skype gradually lost its prominence.

Now that Skype is retiring, Microsoft is making it easy for users to transition to Teams. You can log in to Teams with your Skype account, and your chats and contacts will be right there. During the transition, Teams and Skype will still allow communication between the two platforms. If you decide not to move to Teams, be sure to export your Skype data, including chats and contacts, before May 5, 2025.

The team behind Skype acknowledged its role in shaping modern communication and expressed gratitude for the moments shared through the platform. They are committed to helping users adapt to Teams and discover new ways to connect.

For more information, check out the official announcement.

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Microsoft,Microsoft Teams,Skype