Skype is shutting down after 20 years: Here’s what you need to know

By March 1, 2025
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    Remember Skype? Yeah, the OG video chat app. Well, Microsoft is pulling the plug. May 2025 is the official end date. Time to say your goodbyes.

    Why? Microsoft wants everyone on Teams. They’re cleaning house to focus on their star player.

    What You Need to Know About the Switch

    Don’t panic! Microsoft is making the move as painless as possible. Here’s the lowdown:

    • Easy Login: Use your Skype login for Teams. Simple.
    • Contacts Come With: All your Skype buddies will be waiting for you in Teams.
    • Chat History Too: Your old chats will make the jump as well.
    • Want Out? You can export your Skype data if Teams isn’t your thing.

    Skype’s Rise and. .. Well, You Know

    Skype was a game-changer back in 2003. Free calls online? Revolutionary! eBay thought so too, buying it for a cool $2. 6 billion. Microsoft followed suit in 2011, shelling out $8. 5 billion.

    But then things got. .. complicated. FaceTime, WhatsApp, and a bunch of app redesigns made things tough. Remember when Skype tried to be Snapchat? Yeah, not everyone loved that.

    Teams Takes Over

    Microsoft launched Teams in 2017. It was meant to compete with Slack. Chat, video, file sharing – the whole package. And then the pandemic hit.

    Zoom exploded. Teams grew like crazy. Skype? Not so much. It went from 40 million daily users to 36 million. Teams, on the other hand, boasts a whopping 320 million.

    A Fond Farewell

    Microsoft knows Skype was a big deal. It paved the way for how we connect online. It’s the end of an era, no doubt. But as one door closes. ..

    Further Reading

    David Sterling
    David SterlingStaff writer

    David's got an undeniable knack for crunching numbers and predicting market moves. He delivers spot-on analysis that helps navigate today's ever-changing economy. With his deep experience, David provides insights that turn uncertainty into opportunity.