Microsoft discontinues the well-liked call and messaging service
Skype's End of the Line: Adieu to a Revolutionary Communication Platform
Image credit: GLOBAL LOOK PRESS.
Prepare to bid farewell to Skype, as it's kicking the bucket on May 5, 2025. The news broke back in February, with Microsoft's official statement on their website stating, "In a bid to cater to client demands, we will discontinue Skype support in May 2025, shifting our focus to Microsoft Teams. With Teams, users can access many of the same core features they enjoy in Skype."
Having launched in 2003, Skype shook up the world by allowing free computer-to-computer calls globally. It later revolutionized communication with the introduction of video calls—to "skype" someone became synonymous with having a video call.
Image credit: GLOBAL LOOK PRESS.
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Leading analyst at Mobile Research Group, Eldar Murtazin, thought Skype was a game-changer by showcasing the simplicity of voice IP telephony. However, Microsoft's acquisition of Skype in 2011 marked its beginning of the end. Murtazin observed, "Everything Microsoft touches turns into a once-successful service that morphs into buggy software, and Skype is no exception. Its performance deteriorated, updates piled up, and users gravitated towards its competitors."
General Director of "Internet Search" company, Igor Bederov, noted that Skype's popularity soared in the 2010s, with 300 million monthly users. Yet, it plummeted to a mere 36 million by 2023, due to the rise of stable and convenient messengers amid the pandemic.
Among my buddies, barely anyone still uses Skype. My daughter's tutor, Boris Konstantinovich, admits that he uses it sparingly, solely when asked. "Other platforms are more convenience-focused," he shares.
Microsoft is washing its hands of a service that's more prone to malfunctions than consistent performance.
Microsoft Tosses Skype for Teams - A Comprehensive Communication and Collaboration Solution
Microsoft has decided to cut ties with Skype due to its spotty performance.
Various experts echo similar concerns, stating that Skype is as broken as it was in its twilight years. However, Igor Bederov confidently states that Teams is a more advanced tool, designed to seamlessly integrate into the Microsoft ecosystem.
Technically, Skype couldn't hold up against Teams, which offers extended features like calendar integration, task management, and support for up to 10,000 webinar attendees," of which Bederov speaks. User data can be migrated to Teams by January 2026. Chats and contacts will automatically sync upon logging into Teams with your Skype account. There's also an option to export data using the built-in tool in the Skype app. However, some data (such as bot chats or private conversations) may not survive the transition.
Those mourning the loss of Skype need not despair. For video calls, Russian services like Yandex.Teleмоst, Contour.Tolk, VK Teams, and TrueConf are solid alternatives.
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In the world of technology, Skype's decline became evident as Microsoft's focus on Microsoft Teams took precedence, leaving a gap in the market for alternative communication platforms.
Amidst this transformation, experts like Igor Bederov have hailed Microsoft Teams as a more advanced tool compared to the faltering Skype, touting its extended features like calendar integration, task management, and the ability to support up to 10,000 webinar attendees.
