Skype, the popular internet chat and voice service, will officially shut down on Monday after serving users for over two decades. The service, which was launched by a group of engineers in 2003, was acquired by Microsoft in 2011 and quickly became one of the world’s leading communication platforms.
However, on February 28, 2025, Microsoft announced that Skype would reach its end of life and will no longer be available starting in May. The decision to shut down Skype marks a significant shift as Microsoft focuses on its more business-oriented platform, Microsoft Teams.
To ease the transition, Microsoft is offering Skype users the option to migrate their accounts to Microsoft Teams Free, where they can continue using core features such as one-on-one and group calls, messaging, and file sharing. The Skype Dial Pad, available to paid users, will be accessible via the Skype web portal and within Teams.
While Skype’s shutdown is a sad moment for many who relied on the platform for personal and professional communications, Microsoft hopes to retain these users on Teams, which has gained popularity as a collaboration tool in workplaces worldwide.
With the shutdown, Microsoft is consolidating its communication services under Teams, marking the end of an era for Skype users.
