Microsoft has announced that it will retire Skype on May 5, 2025, and transition users to the free version of Microsoft Teams.
Current Skype users can log into Microsoft Teams using their existing credentials, with their chats, contacts, and message history automatically available. Alternatively, users can export their data if they prefer not to migrate to Teams.
As part of this transition, Microsoft will discontinue Skype’s support for calling domestic and international phone numbers. This change reflects the growing use of Voice over IP (VoIP) services and the decreasing cost of mobile data plans, reducing the need for traditional phone call features.
Skype will remain operational until May 5, 2025, providing users approximately 60 days to decide whether to switch to Microsoft Teams or export their data. During this period, Microsoft will maintain interoperability between Skype and Teams, allowing messages sent from Teams to reach contacts still using Skype.
This decision comes nearly 14 years after Microsoft acquired Skype for $8.5 billion. Despite its early popularity, Skype has faced stiff competition from services like FaceTime, Messenger, WhatsApp, and Zoom, leading to a decline in its user base. Microsoft’s focus will now shift entirely to enhancing Teams for consumer use.
The transition to Teams aims to provide users with a modern communication platform that integrates seamlessly with other Microsoft services and offers features beyond those available in Skype. Microsoft assures users that the migration process will be straightforward, with efforts made on the backend to ensure contacts, message history, and call logs are preserved.
