Microsoft has announced that it will be shutting down Skype, the internet-based phone and video service that has been in operation for 21 years.
In a statement on X (formerly Twitter) on Friday, the tech giant urged Skype users to migrate to Microsoft Teams Free.
“Starting in May 2025, Skype will no longer be available. Over the coming days, you can sign in to Microsoft Teams Free with your Skype account to stay connected with all your chats and contacts. Thank you for being part of Skype,” the statement read.
The decision comes 14 years after Microsoft acquired Skype for $8.5 billion in what was then its largest cash acquisition. Despite integrating Skype into its ecosystem, including Office and Windows Phone, the service has struggled to compete with newer platforms like Zoom and Google Meet.
Skype was originally launched in 2003 by Janus Friis and Niklas Zennström, the co-founders of the file-sharing platform Kazaa, alongside a team of Estonian developers.
