Say goodbye to Skype, as the service which offers chat and video communications will be retired on Monday, May 5, 2025 by Microsoft, which is the current owner of Skype.
Say Goodbye to Skype. Service Ends May 5 2025.
“Beginning March 2025, you will be able to sign into Microsoft Teams Free with your Skype credentials, and your chats and contacts will be right there ready for you”, according to this announcement that was posted at the official Internet web site of Skype. “Enjoy the features you love about Skype, including free calling and messaging, as well as new features like meetings and communities, all on Teams app.”
Alternatives to Skype include Zoom, WhatsApp, FaceTime, Discord, and Signal — all of which contributed to the increasing irrelevance of Skype, which Microsoft acquired for $8.5 billion from eBay back in 2011 when Skype had as many as 600 million subscribers.
Users of Skype have the option to export their data — including contacts, chats, and call history.
“Moving forward, we will no longer offer paid Skype features to new customers, including Skype Credit and subscriptions that allow you to make and receive international and domestic calls”, according to this article at the official Internet web site of Microsoft that was written by Jeff Teper, who is the current president, Collaborative Apps and Platforms of Microsoft. “Current Skype subscription users can continue to use their Skype Credits and subscriptions until the end of their next renewal period. Skype Credit users can also continue to use their remaining Skype Credit. After May 5, 2025, the Skype Dial Pad will be available to remaining paid users from the Skype web portal and within Teams.”
Final Boarding Call
Communications application software helps people — especially travelers — to stay in touch with other people for little to no money; but one fewer tool will be available when Skype is retired.
I personally have not used Skype much in years. Will you miss Skype at all?
Source: Microsoft.
