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Microsoft to Retire Skype on May 5, Consolidating Into Teams

The 22-year-old VOIP pioneer will transition users and data to Microsoft Teams as the company focuses on its modern collaboration platform.

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A photo illustration shows Skype's logo on a tablet.
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Overview

  • Skype, launched in 2003, will officially shut down on May 5, 2025, as Microsoft consolidates its communication tools into Teams.
  • All Skype chats, contacts, and accounts will automatically migrate to the free version of Microsoft Teams, ensuring continuity for users.
  • Paid Skype users can continue to use their remaining subscriptions and credits via a new dial-pad tool in Teams or the Skype web portal.
  • Microsoft's decision reflects Skype's decline in relevance amid competition from Zoom, WhatsApp, Discord, and the rise of Microsoft Teams, which now has over 300 million active users.
  • The shutdown marks the end of an era for the once-dominant platform, remembered for revolutionizing internet calling and connecting millions globally.