Skype Shutdown: Microsoft Shifts to Teams via Skype
The shutdown of Skype and the shift to Microsoft Teams marks a significant change in the way people communicate and collaborate, and users can expect a seamless transition to the new platform, with the ability to export their data or switch to Teams for free, and enjoy the many features and benefits that Teams has to offer, including one-on-one calls, group calls, messaging, file sharing, and meeting hosting.
Microsoft is shutting down Skype, a video call service that once had over 300 million users, due to a significant decline in usage, and shifting its focus to Microsoft Teams, a modern communications and collaboration hub that offers features like one-on-one calls, group calls, messaging, file sharing, and meeting hosting.
The decision to retire Skype in May 2025 marks the end of an era for the communication platform, which was launched in 2003 and acquired by Microsoft in 2011. Despite receiving updates, Skype's usage declined, and Microsoft has been pushing Teams hard as a replacement. The transition period will allow users to call and chat with Skype users and vice versa, and users can export their data, including chats, contacts, and call history, or switch to Teams for free using their Skype credentials.
Skype is not the only technology to become obsolete, as other notable examples include Blackberries, landlines, floppy disks, VHS tapes, cassette tapes, CDs, DVDs, portable music players, pagers, fax machines, and overhead projectors, all of which have been replaced by more modern technologies. Microsoft Teams, on the other hand, has seen a significant increase in usage, with hundreds of millions of people using it as their hub for teamwork.
As the shutdown approaches, users are encouraged to switch to Teams for calls and chats, and paid Skype features, including Skype Credit and subscriptions, will no longer be available to new customers. The shift to Teams is expected to provide a more streamlined and integrated communication experience for users, and Microsoft is committed to supporting users through the transition period.
