Skype to shutdown forever

Skype, the popular video calling service with 300 million monthly users, is officially being shut down after 14 years.

Microsoft has decided to pull the plug as it shifts focus to its Teams app. It’s the end of an era for one of the pioneers of online communication. Before the service shuts down in May, Microsoft is urging Skype customers to move to Teams.

Your Skype contacts and chats will appear in Teams once you connect with your Skype login information. You won’t lose contact with anyone during the transition because Teams users will still be able to call and chat with Skype users and vice versa.

Founders of Skype

Two Swedish and Danish businessmen, Niklas Zennström and Janus Friis, respectively, founded Skype. They co-founded the business in 2003 with the intention of offering a cutting-edge method of online voice and video communication.

In addition to his work in the tech sector, Niklas Zennström is credited with co-founding Kazaa, a peer-to-peer file-sharing network. He is renowned for his vision in forming internet communications and has been involved in several profitable endeavors.

In contrast, Zennström collaborated with Danish businessman Janus Friis on Kazaa. He has played a key role in the creation of numerous cutting-edge services and technologies, such as Skype. Together, they had a significant influence on digital communication worldwide.

Purchased by Microsoft 14 years ago

Skype was purchased by Microsoft in 2011 after being sold to eBay in 2005, which aided in the service’s expansion.Skype launched back in 2003, and 14 years ago, Microsoft purchased it for a whopping $8.5 billion (around £9.5 billion today). It was a major move for Microsoft, helping to shape the future of online communication.

With an emphasis on revolutionizing real-time communications for both consumers and enterprises, Microsoft and Skype are still working toward their common objective of bringing people together across all devices.

Since the acquisition was completed, it has formally joined Microsoft as a new business division, ushering in an exciting new era in their efforts to enhance communication and connection.

Microsoft said on X (previously Twitter): ‘Starting in May 2025, Skype will no longer be available. Over the coming days, you can sign in to Microsoft Teams Free with your Skype account to stay connected with all your chats and contacts.Thank you for being part of Skype.’