Skype is shutting down on May 5: Here’s how to move to Microsoft Teams | Technology News
Skype, the video calling platform that made headlines in the early 2000s, is finally shutting down. While the service isn’t as popular as it used to be, Microsoft claims that more than 36 million people used Skype daily to connect with their friends, family and colleagues.
In a blog post, Microsoft confirmed that Skype will be shutting down on May 5, 2025. The tech giant has been slowly phasing out Skype features. In December last year, the tech giant stopped selling credits for Skype numbers, which allowed users to make calls to anyone in any location.
First launched in 2003, Skype had emerged as one of the most popular Voice over Internet Protocol (VOIP) platforms of all time, and was acquired by Microsoft in 2011 for a whopping $8.5 billion. Since then, the tech giant has redesigned Skype a couple of times to take on iMessage and tried to integrate it with its in-house products like Windows, the now discontinued Windows phones, and Xbox.
Since its acquisition, Microsoft has tried to revive Skype by experimenting and rolling out new features like Skype Clips and even integrating Copilot AI last year. But after the company failed to popularise the service during the COVID-19 pandemic, the platform has remained largely neglected. Microsoft, however, did use Skype to build Teams, its new service designed to ease communication for enterprises.
How to switch from Skype to Microsoft Teams?
Microsoft says that in “the coming days, we will roll out the ability for Skype users to sign into Teams (free) on any supported device using their Skype credentials.” When users log in to Teams using their Skype account, chats and contacts will automatically be migrated to the app, allowing uses to quick pick up where they left off.
In the meantime, Microsoft says Teams users will be able to call and chat with Skype users and that Skype users can do the same.In case you are not interested in migrating to Teams, Microsoft allows users to export their chats, contacts and call history.
If you are want to switch to Teams, simply download the app on your device and login with your Skype credentials. Now, you will be able to see all your contacts and chats in the app, For those wondering Microsoft says current Skype subscribers will be able to use their Skype Credits and subscriptions until their next renewal period, while the Skype Dial Pad will remain available to paid users from the Skype web portal and within the Teams app.
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