Skype, popular for its IP-based voice and video calls as well as instant messaging is shutting down very soon. Microsoft has announced that Skype will no longer be available starting in May 2025 and existing Skype users are told to migrate to Microsoft Teams.
According to Microsoft’s official announcement, Skype will be retired to streamline their free consumer communications offering so that they can adapt to customer needs. It added that with Teams, users will have access to many of the same core features they use in Skype which include one-on-one calls and group calls, messaging and file sharing. In addition, Teams provide enhanced features such as hosting meetings, managing calendars and building and joining communities for free.
Skype users can login immediately to Teams
The Skype app will be available until 5th May 2025 to provide time for users to make the switch to Microsoft Teams. To make the transition seamless, Microsoft is rolling out the ability for Skype users to sign into Teams on any supported device. Once logged in, their Skype account, chats and contacts will automatically appear in Teams. Alternatively, users are also given the option to export their Skype data.
To get started with the move, just download the Teams app on your preferred device and login using your current Skype login details.
What about existing Skype credits for voice calls?
Microsoft says they will no longer offer paid Skype features to new customers which include credit and subscriptions for domestic and international phone calls. Existing Skype subscribers can continue to use their Skype credits and subscriptions until the end of their next renewal period.
After 5th May 2025, the Skype Dial Pad will be available to remaining paid users from the Skype web portal and within Teams.
Skype was created by Niklas Zennström, Janus Friis, and four Estonian developers, and it was first released in August 2003. In May 2011, Microsoft acquired Skype for USD 8.5 billion and at the time, it served over 160 million active users. It became integrated with Microsoft products, replacing Windows Live Messenger.
It was reported that Skype’s active daily users have dropped to 36 million in 2023 while Microsoft Teams has 320 million users as of April 2024.
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