Microsoft has officially announced that it will discontinue Skype in May, opting to replace it with a free version of Microsoft Teams. This decision comes at a time when communication platforms such as WhatsApp, Zoom, FaceTime, and Messenger have taken over the VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) market, pushing traditional cellphone calling services like Skype into the annals of history.
According to The Verge, existing Skype users will have the convenience of logging into the Microsoft Teams app, where they can access all their previous Skype content, including message history and contacts, without needing to create a new account. Microsoft plans to gradually eliminate support for both domestic and international calls through Skype.
For those not ready to make the switch to Teams, Skype users have the option to export their data, such as photos and conversation histories. Microsoft has developed a tool to assist users in viewing their Skype chat history without transitioning to Teams.
Skype will go offline on May 5, giving users 60 days to make their decision. Microsoft will continue to honor existing Skype credits, but will cease offering new customers access to paid Skype features that allow for making or receiving international and domestic calls.
The significant loss with Skype's shutdown is the ability to make calls to cellphones. In an interview with The Verge, Microsoft's vice president of product, Amit Fulay, explained that while telephony functionality was crucial during Skype's heyday, it has become less relevant. "Part of the reason is we look at the usage and the trends, and this functionality was great at the time when voice over IP (VoIP) wasn’t available and mobile data plans were very expensive," Fulay said. "If we look at the future, that’s not a thing we want to be in."
Microsoft acquired Skype for $8.5 billion in 2011, with the intention of enhancing its focus on real-time video and voice communications and tapping into new markets with Skype's then 160 million active users. Skype once played a vital role across all Windows devices and was even promoted as a key feature for the Xbox console. However, Microsoft acknowledges that Skype's user base has remained stagnant in recent years, leading to a shift in focus towards Microsoft Teams for consumer use.
