Microsoft announced last week that it would be shutting down the video call platform Skype, almost 14 years after it purchased the company for $8.5 billion.
Jeff Teper, president of collaborative apps and platforms at Microsoft, shared the news in a statement on Friday.
“In order to streamline our free consumer communications offerings so we can more easily adapt to customer needs, we will be retiring Skype in May 2025 to focus on Microsoft Teams (free), our modern communications and collaboration hub,” Tepper said.
The decision comes as Microsoft looks to go all in on its own video call and messaging service, Teams, which Tepper says offers users access to many of the “same core features they use in Skype, such as one-on-one calls and group calls, messaging, and file sharing.”
“Hundreds of millions of people already use Teams as their hub for teamwork, helping them stay connected and engaged at work, school, and at home,” Tepper noted. “In the past two years, the number of minutes spent in meetings by consumer users of Teams has grown 4X, reflecting the value Teams brings to everyday communication and collaboration. ”
In 2011, Microsoft decided to purchase Skype and, the following year, scrapped its messaging system, Messenger. While the decision was made to invest in the once-revolutionary platform, the introduction of FaceTime, WhatsApp, Zoom, and more has made it difficult to compete in the messaging and communication space.
After COVID-19 shut down the professional world, sending Americans and those around the globe to their home offices, Zoom became increasingly popular. Microsoft responded by launching Teams but said it remained committed to Skype.
Now, more than two decades after it was first launched, Skype will see its doors close. However, those using the platform will still have some time, as Microsoft said it will be available until May 5.
Those who currently use Skype will be able to log into the Microsoft Teams app to access their message history, group chats, and contacts without being required to create another account. There will also be options to transfer data to other platforms.