New Delhi: After helping people talk and video call for more than 20 years, Skype is finally shutting down on May 5, 2025. Microsoft, the company that owns Skype, has decided to stop it so they can focus more on their other app called Microsoft Teams. Here’s everything you need to know in easy words.
Why is Skype closing?
Microsoft has been thinking about closing Skype for a long time. They already have another app called Teams, which is more modern and is mostly used in offices and schools. So instead of running both apps, they decided to continue only with Teams. Teams has all-in-one features like meetings, chats, file sharing, and more. That’s why Skype is being removed.
What will happen to Skype users?
If you still use Skype, don’t worry too much. Microsoft says you can log into Teams using your Skype ID, so your chats and contacts can be moved easily. Most of Skype’s important features are already there in Teams. But some paid features (like cheap international calls) will not be available anymore once their current plans expire.
Even though Microsoft wants people to use Teams, there are many other apps you can try, like:
- Google Meet
- Zoom
- WhatsApp (yes, it also has video calling feature)
- Baidu (China)
- Telegram
- Facebook Messenger
So, if you don’t want to use Teams, you have other good options too…
Skype was started in 2003 by two guys named Janus Friis and Niklas Zennstron and later it became super popular and had millions of users in just a few years. In 2011, Microsoft bought Skype for almost $8.5 billion.
At one time, everyone was using Skype, for job interviews, talking to friends or family in other countries, and even for online classes, people even said “Let’s Skype” just like they say “Let’s Google it.”
Why did Skype fail?
Skype started having problems in the late 2010s, when the new apps like Zoom, Slack, and even Teams became better. Skype didn’t update fast, and it had problems like lag and call drops. Slowly, people started using other alternatives.
Also, many users believe that Microsoft didn’t focus much on Skype after buying it, and during the COVID time, instead of improving Skype, Microsoft promoted Teams, so, Skype slowly got forgotten.
Many users are worried about their call history, contacts, or Skype numbers. Microsoft says you can move your chat history and contacts to Teams, but paid features will stop after their current plan ends. If you used Skype for cheap international calls, you’ll have to find new options.
Goodbye
For many people, Skype was not just an app, it was their first experience of video calling. The iconic ringtone, the happy sounds, and the friendly look made Skype feel special. It was there for birthdays, long-distance friendships, and even job interviews.
