Microsoft is shuttering its once-popular video conference platform Skype.
In a statement released Friday, the company announced it would do away with the platform to instead focus its efforts on Microsoft Teams.
“The way we communicate has evolved significantly over the years. From instant messaging to video calls, technology has continuously transformed how we connect with each other,” Jeff Teper, Microsoft’s president of collaborative apps and platforms, wrote. “In order to (…) more easily adapt to customer needs, we will be retiring Skype in May 2025.”
At its peak of popularity, in the 2000s and 2010s, Skype was one of the most used video platforms available on the web. The most recent data provided by Skype, from 2023, suggested at least 36 million people were using the platform each day. It’s popularity was eventually shadowed by competing video call app Zoom, which gained a significant user spike during the pandemic.
The last day users will be able to access the platform will be May 5, Teper said. In the interim, users will have the choice to either move to Teams, for free, or export their data entirely.
Paid Skype features will not be offered to new customers between now and May 5, the company said. That includes Skype credits and subscriptions that allow users to make and receive phone calls.
Current paid users can continue to access their subscription until the end of their next renewal period, and those with credits will be able to use their remaining allotment.
“Skype has been an integral part of shaping modern communications and supporting countless meaningful moments, and we are honored to have been part of the journey,” Teper wrote. “We (…) understand that change can be challenging and want you to know that we’re here to support you every step of the way.”
Launched in 2003, Skype was first acquired by eBay in 2005. Six years later, Microsoft bought the platform for $8.5 billion.
