Microsoft closed Skype, the online voice and video call pioneer that the tech titan bought in 2011, on May 5, 2025. — AFP
WASHINGTON: Skype, the once-popular video call service, has ceased operations on May 5 after more than 20 years.
Owner Microsoft had announced the move in February, encouraging Skype users to migrate to its communications app Teams.
"As we say goodbye to Skype, we want to thank our incredible community. Over the years, you've connected with family, friends, and colleagues across the world," the Skype team said in a post on the service's official X page on Monday.
"This isn't the end – it's a new beginning. Join us on Microsoft Teams Free and continue making great memories."
The service stops being available from Tuesday.
Skype was founded in Luxembourg in 2003 by Niklas Zennström of Sweden and Janus Friis of Denmark. The service allowed a mass audience to make free voice and video calls over the internet for the first time.
It was particularly popular for international communication as it allowed users to avoid high telephone costs which had been inescapable until then.
At its peak, Skype had several hundred million users per month worldwide. According to the Similarweb statistics service, the number of users has since fallen to around 30 million per month.
Skype users could not only call other Skype users, but also make calls to landline and mobile numbers. A Skype credit or subscription was required for this feature.
Microsoft bought Skype in 2011 for US$8.5bil and integrated it into its ecosystem, including Windows and Office.
Despite this integration, Skype has lost ground to competitors such as Zoom and WhatsApp.
But Microsoft Teams, which launched in 2017, has now established itself as one of the leading providers in the collaboration software market and plays a central role in corporate communications. – dpa
