Microsoft is shutting down Skype, the 21-year-old internet-based phone and video service that once revolutionized digital communication.
The tech giant made the announcement on Friday via a statement on X (formerly Twitter), urging Skype users to transition to its free Microsoft Teams app.
“Starting in May 2025, Skype will no longer be available. In 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 marks the end of a service Microsoft acquired in 2011 for $8.5 billion—its largest cash acquisition at the time—aimed at strengthening its communication offerings. After the acquisition, Microsoft integrated Skype into its broader ecosystem, including Office and the now-defunct Windows Phone platform.
Despite experiencing a brief resurgence during the pandemic, Skype has struggled to compete with competitors like Zoom and Google Meet, with its user base steadily declining in recent years.
Skype was launched in 2003 by Janus Friis and Niklas Zennström, co-founders of the peer-to-peer file-sharing platform Kazaa, in Estonia, with the support of former classmates who had no prior experience in telecommunications.
