Microsoft has announced the upcoming closure of Skype, set for May, with plans to transition its user base to a free version of Microsoft Teams. This move comes as voice over IP (VoIP) services like WhatsApp, Zoom, FaceTime, and Messenger have become the dominant platforms for digital communication, relegating traditional Skype calls to cellphones to a thing of the past.
According to The Verge, existing Skype users will be able to seamlessly transition to Microsoft Teams by logging in with their current credentials, ensuring that all their data, including message history and contacts, remains intact without the need for a new account. Microsoft will gradually phase out the ability to make domestic and international calls through Skype.
For those who prefer not to switch to Teams, Microsoft offers a tool to export Skype data, including photos and conversation history, allowing users to keep their records. Users have until May 5 to make their decision, as Skype will go offline on that date. Microsoft assures that existing Skype credits will be honored, although new customers will no longer have access to paid Skype features for making or receiving calls.
The significant impact of Skype's shutdown is the loss of direct calling to cellphones. Microsoft's Amit Fulay, vice president of product, explained to The Verge that while this feature was once valuable during Skype's peak, it's less relevant today. "Part of the reason is we look at the usage and the trends, and this functionality was great at the time when voice over IP (VoIP) wasn’t available and mobile data plans were very expensive," Fulay said. "If we look at the future, that’s not a thing we want to be in."Microsoft acquired Skype for $8.5 billion in 2011, aiming to enhance its real-time video and voice communication capabilities and tap into Skype's 160 million active users at the time. Skype was integrated into Windows devices and promoted as a feature for Xbox consoles. However, Microsoft acknowledges that Skype's user base has stagnated in recent years, prompting a shift in focus toward Microsoft Teams for consumer use.
