Microsoft has announced that it will be discontinuing Skype in May, prompting users to transition to Microsoft Teams. According to a report by XDA Developers, hidden code found in the latest Skype for Windows preview includes a message stating, “Starting in May, Skype will no longer be available. Continue your calls and chats in Teams.” Although there has been no official confirmation yet, this move seems to be final.
The decision to retire Skype is not surprising, considering its dwindling popularity over the years. Microsoft acquired Skype in 2011 for $8.5 billion, but with the emergence of Microsoft Teams and competitors like WhatsApp, iMessage, and Discord, Skype usage has significantly declined. Even during the COVID-19 pandemic, Skype was often overlooked in favor of Zoom and Teams.
While Microsoft has allowed Skype and Teams to coexist, with Skype serving as a foundation for the development of Teams, the platform has struggled to attract new users despite efforts to modernize it with features like AI-powered chat and short video messages. The gradual discontinuation of Skype became apparent when Skype credits were no longer available for purchase as of December 2023. The last update was released in May 2024, indicating Microsoft’s gradual withdrawal of support.
Skype was originally founded in 2003 by Swedish entrepreneur Niklas Zennström and Danish businessman Janus Friis, who also created the peer-to-peer file-sharing platform Kazaa. Initially, Skype operated on a hybrid peer-to-peer and client-server model before being fully integrated into Azure following Microsoft’s acquisition.
As Skype’s phase-out becomes imminent, the platform’s legacy as a pioneering VoIP service will soon come to an end, with Microsoft shifting its focus to Teams as the primary communication tool.
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