NAIROBI, Kenya – The dial tone is fading for Skype. Microsoft has officially announced that it will retire the once-revolutionary voice and video calling service in May 2025, nudging users toward its Teams platform instead.
For anyone who grew up hearing that classic Skype ringtone, this is the end of an era.
But let’s be real—when was the last time you actually used Skype? With WhatsApp, Zoom, and even Microsoft’s own Teams dominating the space, Skype has been on borrowed time.
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
So, what does this mean for you, and why is Microsoft pulling the plug? Let’s dive in.
From Internet Calling Pioneer to Obsolete
Launched in 2003 by Scandinavian entrepreneurs Niklas Zennström and Janus Friis, Skype changed the way the world communicated.
Suddenly, you could make free voice calls over the internet—a game-changer at a time when international phone rates were sky-high.
By 2005, 50 million users had signed up, catching the attention of eBay, which snapped it up for $2.6 billion.
That partnership flopped, and by 2011, Microsoft swooped in and acquired Skype for a hefty $8.5 billion.
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For a while, Skype thrived, adding video calls, instant messaging, and file sharing.
But then came the smartphone revolution, and Skype—built on old-school peer-to-peer technology—struggled to keep up.
Meanwhile, WhatsApp, Zoom, and FaceTime stole the spotlight. Even Microsoft’s own Teams, launched in 2017, became the preferred tool for businesses and remote work.
Why Microsoft Is Retiring Skype
According to Jeff Teper, president of Microsoft 365 collaborative apps, the decision to shut down Skype was about simplification and innovation.
“We’ve learned a lot from Skype… but now is the time to focus on Teams,” he told CNBC.
By shifting entirely to Teams, Microsoft can streamline its offerings and push updates faster.
The company has assured users that Skype group chats will transfer to Teams seamlessly, and for 60 days, messages will be interoperable between the two platforms.
However, there’s one big loss: Skype’s telephony features. That means no more calling landlines, mobile numbers, or making cheap international calls—a function that once set Skype apart.
Microsoft says this is because mobile data plans are now more affordable, making traditional calling less relevant.
What’s Next? Should You Switch to Teams?
If you still use Skype (or know someone who does), now’s the time to start transitioning to Teams.
Microsoft is actively nudging users in that direction, and once May 2025 rolls around, Skype will officially be history.
For most people, though, this won’t be a major disruption. The world has already moved on to WhatsApp, Zoom, and FaceTime.
But for the nostalgic few, it’s the end of an era—a reminder that even the most groundbreaking tech eventually meets its sunset.
So, goodbye, Skype. We’ll always have those ringtone memories.
