New Delhi: In May, Microsoft will permanently close Skype, marking the end of its existence on the 22-year-old platform. Skype, launched in 2003, swiftly grew to become one of the largest internet-based telephony services. Microsoft acquired the platform in 2011 and gradually started dismantling some of its major components in the ensuing years. The company had previously shut down Windows Live Messenger and, in 2015, tried to add Skype to Windows 10 before canning the plan nine months later.
Transition to Microsoft Teams
Microsoft added Teams in 2017 as an internal communication tool to compete with programs such as Slack. Microsoft is moving Skype users over to Teams. One message that appeared during the event indicated that users would be able to carry on their calls and chats on Teams. It also said many contacts have already moved onto the new platform, and the notifications were based on users’ Skype connections.
Skype users should begin seeing these messages in their apps, signalling that the switch will start rolling out soon.
The Rise and Fall of Skype
Skype, founded in 2003, was originally a VoIP service, and it found enormous success with its use as a communication tool. In 2011, Microsoft bought it for $8.5 billion and adapted the platform a few times in an attempt to make it more attractive and able to compete with Apple’s iMessage. The tech major also tried to scale Skype across its own products — Windows, Windows Phone and Xbox.
Microsoft added a few features recently—including Skype Clips and Copilot AI—to try and boost its interest. Despite these efforts, Skype failed to attract users when the pandemic hit and video conferencing services exploded. Missing this trick ended up being the catalyst for shutting Skype for good.
Microsoft Teams is the new go-to communication and collaboration platform for Microsoft after its efforts to retire Skype have been on the longest journey ever.