Microsoft is officially abandoning Skype on May 5 and urges its users to switch to Teams once and for all. In its announcement, the company stated that the move will allow it to “streamline our free consumer communications offerings so we can more easily adapt to customer needs.”
Microsoft has also made no secret of its intentions to switch to Teams and has added step-by-step instructions for the transition. All people need to do is sign in with their Skype credentials and their chats and contacts should appear. Teams and Skype users will be able to communicate with each other until the latter closes. Microsoft has also published an entire YouTube video illustrating how to migrate user data. However, those who don’t want to switch to Teams can export all their data and history until May 5.
This news is hardly surprising given recent moves such as the removal of Skype credits and phone numbers in favor of subscriptions. The possibility of Skype’s closure was first reported by XDA, which published the Skype for Windows preview code: “Starting in May, Skype will no longer be available. Continue your calls and chats in Teams.” New users will not be able to access Skype’s paid features, while current subscribers can use credits and their plan until the end of their renewal period.
Skype was launched over two decades ago in 2003. Microsoft acquired Skype for $8.5 billion in 2011, just as I and everyone I knew was desperately searching for a strong enough Wi-Fi connection at home to chat with friends (yes, it was a really tough situation), and before video chats became the norm at work.
Although Skype doesn’t really stand out in a world filled with apps like Zoom, FaceTime, and, yes, Teams, it’s still hard to say goodbye to a service that was so much fun and connected. Skype felt like a new era of communication, and it will be missed.
