But as competitors like WhatsApp, Zoom, and eventually Microsoft’s own Teams gained traction, Skype’s popularity faded.
Skype, the pioneering video-calling platform, will officially shut down on May 5,
ending its 22-year run as one of the internet’s first global communication tools. Acquired by Microsoft for $8.5 billion in 2011, Skype once boasted over 300 million monthly users but lost ground to rivals like Zoom, WhatsApp, and Microsoft’s own Teams. The shutdown marks the end of an era for free and paid users, though Skype for Business will remain operational temporarily.
Microsoft confirmed the retirement of Skype on February 28, citing a strategic shift toward Teams for unified communication and collaboration. “This decision streamlines our services to better meet evolving user needs,” the company stated. Once a revolutionary platform for internet calls, Skype’s decline reflects changing preferences in digital communication. While nostalgic users mourn its departure, Microsoft emphasizes Teams as the future of its communication ecosystem.
READ THE FULL STORY IN DAILY POST