Pour one out for Skype, Microsoft’s long-neglected stepchild of online communication. After years of slow decay and forced transitions, Skype will officially shut down on May 5, 2025. The tech giant announced that all users will need to move to Microsoft Teams, its preferred (and corporate-approved) messaging platform.

The End of an Era (That Was Already Over)

Skype, once synonymous with video calls and voice chats, has been on life support ever since Microsoft acquired it for $8.5 billion in 2011. Over the years, the company stripped Skype of features, shoved it aside for Teams, and left it to rot while users jumped ship to Zoom, WhatsApp, and FaceTime.

According to Microsoft’s official blog, this “next chapter” is about moving to a “more modern and integrated experience”. Translation: Microsoft is done pretending it cares about Skype.

From Market Leader to Forgotten Relic

Skype wasn’t just another chat app, it pioneered video calling in the early 2000s and was the go-to platform for long-distance calls. By the time Microsoft bought it, Skype had 300 million monthly users and was woven into the fabric of digital communication.

But the acquisition turned out to be a slow-motion disaster. Microsoft:

• Overcomplicated the UI, making simple calls a frustrating experience.
• Failed to compete with Zoom, which exploded in popularity during the pandemic.
• Ignored consumer feedback, focusing on enterprise solutions instead.

By the time Microsoft merged Skype for Business into Teams in 2019, the writing was already on the wall.

What Happens Now?

If you’re still using Skype (which, honestly, why?), you have until May 5, 2025, to say your goodbyes. After that, Microsoft recommends transitioning to Teams, a suggestion that’s sure to thrill exactly no one.

For those nostalgic about Skype’s glory days, this marks the final chapter of a once-great service that Microsoft fumbled beyond recognition.

So long, Skype. We’ll always remember the sound of your iconic ringtone. Doo-doo-doo-doo-doo-doo.