Skype to Shut Down in Just Over Two Months: What You Need to Know
In just over two months, Skype will cease to operate. Here are the key details you need to know to prepare for this upcoming change.
Adieu Skype, bonjour Microsoft Teams
The pioneering video conferencing app Skype is set to shut down permanently in May, following revelations from a line of code in the latest Skype for Windows version, uncovered by XDADevelopers’ readers and confirmed by staff members.
Microsoft Teams, the Announced Successor
Replacing Skype, the code explicitly mentions Microsoft Teams. The strategy is straightforward: persuade Skype users to transition to Teams by highlighting how many of their contacts are already on the new platform.
Launched in 2003 and acquired by Microsoft in 2011, Skype received significant enhancements post-acquisition, including integration into Windows 10. However, the launch of Microsoft Teams in 2017 signaled the beginning of the end for the Estonian-origin app. Teams previously replaced Skype for Business in 2021. With Team’s video conferencing features once embedded in the original Windows 11 interface (though later removed in updates), Microsoft has aimed to position Teams as its sole video conferencing solution for both personal and professional use.
The Challenge of Change for Skype Loyalists
Many of you likely hold fond memories of using Skype over the past two decades. Yet, even as more advanced video conferencing services like Apple’s FaceTime, WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger video options, Google Meet, Zoom, and of course Microsoft Teams have emerged, Skype has remained a preferred app for many.
While discontinuing Skype may make financial sense for Microsoft, it’s hard to see this impacting the non-professional use of Teams significantly. The shift to using Teams for weekly family calls seems unlikely for many, who may instead turn to WhatsApp or FaceTime.
If you’re also looking for a new platform to connect with friends, family, or colleagues, we’ve compiled a guide to the best video conferencing apps to aid your decision. You still have a few weeks to choose your Skype alternative.