Skype, a trailblazer in video and voice calls, is set to end in May 2025, as confirmed by Microsoft. This marks a significant milestone in digital communication, with users being encouraged to transition to Teams for their calls and conversations.
Why is Skype being stopped?
Skype’s popularity has been diminishing for a number of years, unable to keep up with newer options like WhatsApp, Zoom, Google Meet, and Microsoft Teams.
Teams experienced a surge in popularity during the pandemic, with a significant increase in daily active users from 13 million in 2019 to 145 million in 2021, and further reaching 320 million between 2022 and 2024. In contrast, Skype saw a decline in its user base, dropping to under 36 million in 2023.
Microsoft purchased Skype in 2011 for $8.5 billion with hopes that it would become the leading internet communication platform. Initially successful, newer, more advanced platforms emerged, causing Skype to lose its significance.
Microsoft has now made the decision to progress forward. If you are a current Skype user, it is advisable to begin considering an alternative as Skype will be permanently shut down in May.