End of an era: Microsoft announces the end of Skype in May 2025

End of an era: Microsoft announces the end of Skype in May 2025

Microsoft, USA - A significant change is imminent: Microsoft will stop his online telephone service Skype in May 2025. This decision was revealed by deeper insights into the program code of Skype, as reported krone.at . Users are asked to switch to Microsoft Teams, a platform that Skype has increasingly replaced. Skype, the pioneer of Voice-over-IP telephony, is retiring after more than two decades after Microsoft acquired the company in 2011 for $ 8.5 billion. For a long time, Skype was rather neglected by Microsoft, while teams were treated with new functions and updates.

Users have time until May 5, 2025 to decide whether they want to switch to Microsoft teams or export their data. Jeff Teper, President of the Microsoft 365 applications, assured that existing Skype users can simply import their contact details and message history data into teams without creating a new account, according to The verge . During the transition, interoperability between Skype and teams will also maintain so that users can continue to communicate with each other. However, the possibility of calling international telephone numbers is canceled because the use of this function has decreased significantly. Microsoft plans to focus completely on teams for consumers.

the farewell to Skype and the future with teams

There is still a transition period for autumn 2025 before a switch to Microsoft teams is required. Microsoft's decision to reject Skype reflects the changes in communication behavior, since more and more users change to alternative platforms such as zoom, WhatsApp and messenger. Although Skype recorded an initial user gain during the Covid 19 pandemic, the growth was last failed to materialize. Microsoft admitted that saying goodbye to Skype was inevitable and is a strategic decision to strengthen teams.