Skype, the video-calling platform with hundreds of millions of users, will be shutting down in May, according to its owner, Microsoft.
Once a leading service for free voice calls via computers, Skype played a crucial role in popularizing computer-to-computer communication, although it wasn’t the first to offer such a service.
In a post on X, Skype informed users that they can transition to Microsoft Teams to maintain access to their chats and contacts.
Microsoft has not yet responded to BBC News’ request for comment.
Launched in 2003, Skype was acquired by Microsoft in 2011 for $8.5 billion (£6.1 billion), marking the company’s largest acquisition at that time.
In December 2010, tech commentator Om Malik referred to Skype as one of the “key applications of the modern web” during a significant two-day outage.
Microsoft had previously integrated Skype with its other products, including Xbox and Windows devices.
‘It felt like magic’
In light of Skype’s upcoming closure, both former and current users have shared their fond memories of the video-calling service and its impact on their lives.
One user on X reflected, “My best friend and I have many cherished moments on Skype. This is a sad day, almost like losing a piece of my youth.”
Another early adopter named Louise told the BBC that she and her partner used Skype to communicate during their “transatlantic relationship.” She noted, “Skype was such an exciting innovation back then—before smartphones and WhatsApp calls. It’s easy to forget that the ability to connect globally for free is a relatively recent development.”
Anna Simpson, from Cedarwood Digital, shared on LinkedIn that she used to video-call her grandparents after they moved to France nearly two decades ago. “It felt like magic back then,” she wrote. “No costly international charges, just a quick dial-up and pixelated faces keeping us connected.”
“Skype pioneered video calling, but now it’s officially over,” she added. “Microsoft is pulling the plug, but honestly, it’s been on life support for years.”
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So what happened?
When Microsoft acquired Skype, it gained an app that had been downloaded a billion times and boasted hundreds of millions of users. “Together we will create the future of real-time communications,” said Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer at the time.
However, as WhatsApp and Facebook Messenger gained traction, Skype’s popularity began to decline. In 2017, Microsoft revamped Skype, incorporating features reminiscent of Snapchat, which frustrated many users. Rachel Kaser from The Next Web remarked, “People are annoyed by this update because it’s fixing something that was never broken.”
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By June 2021, speculation about Skype’s future intensified. When Microsoft introduced Windows 11, it announced that Microsoft Teams would be integrated by default, while Skype was notably absent for the first time in years. Teams had surged in popularity during the Covid pandemic as remote meetings became the norm.
Following the announcement of Skype’s closure, Microsoft shared a blog post from Jeff Teper, president of collaborative apps and platforms, indicating a shift towards streamlining services to focus on Teams. He noted that Teams offers many of the same core features as Skype, including one-on-one and group calls, messaging, and file sharing, along with additional functionalities like meeting hosting and community building.
Skype users now face a choice: transition to Microsoft Teams or export their data, including chats, contacts, and call history. For those who pay for features, Microsoft stated that services would continue until the next renewal period.
SOURCE: GCBGHANAONLINE
