After nearly 14 years under Microsoft’s ownership, Skype is officially being retired in May 2025 as the company shifts its focus to Microsoft Teams.
Once a pioneering platform for internet calls and video chats, Skype struggled to keep up with competitors like FaceTime, WhatsApp, and Zoom—especially during the pandemic, when video conferencing soared in demand.
Originally launched in 2003 and later acquired by Microsoft for $8.5 billion in 2011, Skype once boasted over 300 million users, but that number dwindled to just 36 million by 2023.
Microsoft assures existing users that they can seamlessly transition to Teams, where their contacts, chat history, and group conversations will be preserved without needing a new account.
