Microsoft will shut down Skype, the once-popular internet phone and video service, in May. The company confirmed the news on X, saying users will soon be able to use their Skype logins on Microsoft Teams’ free version.
Microsoft bought Skype in 2011 for $8.5 billion โ its biggest acquisition at the time. The service was later integrated into Microsoft products like Office and Windows Phone.
โSkype has shaped modern communications and supported countless meaningful moments,โ said Jeff Teper, president of Microsoft 365 apps. โWeโre excited for the new opportunities that Teams brings and are committed to helping people stay connected in new ways.โ
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Skypeโs popularity has dropped over the years, even during the pandemic when competitors like Zoom and Google Meet grew. The app also lost ground to services like FaceTime and WhatsApp, while Microsoft focused more on developing Teams, which offers similar features.
Launched in 2003 in Estonia, Skype became a hit for allowing free international calls, which were expensive on regular phones. eBay bought it in 2005 for $2.6 billion but later sold most of its stake for $1.9 billion in 2009. Microsoft then acquired Skype in 2011, hoping to use it as a key part of its communication platforms.
With Microsoft shifting its focus to Teams, Skype’s shutdown marks the end of an era. However, users will still have options to stay connected through Microsoftโs evolving services.
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