Microsoft to Shut Down Skype in May, Shifts Focus to Teams
Microsoft will retire Skype in May, moving its services to Microsoft Teams as the company consolidates its communication platforms.
The tech giant announced that Skype users will be able to log into Teams using their existing accounts. The decision reflects Microsoft's long-standing focus on Teams over Skype as it competes with other videoconferencing services.
Skype, founded in 2003 by engineers in Tallinn, Estonia, was a pioneer in internet-based calling. It used voice over internet protocol (VOIP) technology to convert audio into digital signals, allowing users to make calls online instead of using landlines.
The platform gained popularity after eBay acquired it in 2005 and introduced video calling. By 2011, when Microsoft purchased Skype for USD 8.5 billion, it had approximately 170 million users worldwide.
Former Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer highlighted Skype’s impact at the time, stating that the brand had become nearly synonymous with video and voice communication.
Skype remained relevant for years, even being used by the Trump administration in 2017 to connect with journalists outside the White House press briefing room. However, Microsoft launched Teams that same year to compete with Slack Technologies in the workplace communication space.
The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated the adoption of video conferencing tools like Zoom, Slack, and Teams, while Skype’s influence declined. Despite its waning popularity, experts acknowledge Skype’s role in transforming remote communication.
Barbara Larson, a management professor at Northeastern University, noted that Skype made high-quality video calls accessible to a broader audience, strengthening global connections.
Microsoft will shut down Skype in May and transition users to Teams
Skype users can log into Teams with their existing accounts
Skype, founded in 2003, was a pioneer in internet-based calling
Source: AP NEWS