It’s been a lengthy, drawn-out farewell, however the writing’s lastly on the wall for Skype, which can ring for the final time this Could as proprietor Microsoft retires the two-decade-old web calling service that redefined how individuals join throughout borders.
Shutting down Skype will assist Microsoft deal with its homegrown Groups service by simplifying its communication choices, the software program large stated on Friday.
When the pandemic and work-from-home fueled the necessity for on-line enterprise calls, Microsoft batted for Groups by aggressively integrating it with different Workplace apps to faucet company customers — as soon as a serious base for Skype.
To ease the transition from the platform, its customers will be capable to log into Groups without cost on any supported gadget utilizing their present credentials, with chats and contacts migrating robotically.
Microsoft stated on Friday “Skype has been an integral a part of shaping fashionable communications” and that it’s “honoured to have been a part of the journey”.
Skype was a revolutionary product when it was launched within the early 2000s by founders Niklas Zennström of Sweden and Janus Friis of Denmark.
It linked individuals internationally with free voice and video calls, a feat that appeared nearly magical on the time. However because the tech panorama shifted, Skype struggled to maintain tempo. The rise of smartphones, the explosion of social messaging apps and Microsoft’s personal inside missteps all contributed to its gradual demise.
Ailing-fated
Microsoft’s acquisition of Skype in 2011 for US$8.5-billion was presupposed to be a brand new chapter, a revitalisation. As an alternative, it grew to become a collection of complicated pivots and failed integrations. Bear in mind the ill-fated try to merge Skype with Home windows 10’s built-in messaging apps? Or the fixed redesigns that appeared to alienate extra customers than they attracted?
The reality is, Skype by no means fairly discovered its footing within the mobile-first period. Whereas different platforms equivalent to WhatsApp, Telegram and Discord thrived, Skype languished, changing into a relic of a bygone web age. Even in the course of the pandemic, when videoconferencing grew to become important, Skype was largely neglected in favour of Zoom and, satirically, Microsoft’s personal Groups.
Certainly, Groups is the place Microsoft is directing the remaining Skype customers. Groups, initially designed for enterprise collaboration, has advanced into a flexible communication platform that may deal with every little thing from informal chats to large-scale video conferences.
Learn: Microsoft to separate Groups and Workplace globally
Skype’s story is a cautionary story that even probably the most profitable platforms can turn out to be out of date in the event that they fail to adapt. – © 2025 NewsCentral Media, with extra reporting (c) 2025 Reuters
Get breaking information from TechCentral on WhatsApp. Enroll right here.
