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Microsoft will officially discontinue Skype on May 5, 2025, after 23 years of pioneering internet-based calls. Microsoft, which acquired Skype in 2011, is shifting its focus entirely to Teams, marking the end of an era for the once-dominant communication platform.
Microsoft allows users to instantly transfer their Skype contact information and chat history to their Teams accounts. Users can preserve their data using Skype’s built-in export facility before Microsoft shuts down the platform after May 5. Following May 5, the data on Skype will remain until 2025, when Microsoft will fully erase it.
In 2013, the number of Skype users reached its highest point, of 300 million, before subsequently declining. Since 2023, Skype’s monthly active user count has remained at 36 million. During the epidemic, Teams experienced substantial growth, which prompted Microsoft to focus exclusively on the development of this platform.
Skype’s PSTN-based phone calling functions were completely discontinued, and credit purchases and new Skype phone numbers were no longer available as of December 2024. Teams Free users can continue to use their existing credit via the Skype Dial Pad, however the platform does not offer phone-calling capabilities that were previously offered in Skype.
Microsoft made this decision as a result of broader developments in communication, in which messaging platforms and mobile network usage have surpassed traditional Voice over IP conversations. Skype’s status as the leader in digital communication services has been replaced by Microsoft Teams’ more ubiquitous communication capabilities.
All users must complete their migration or data backup before May 5. Team Free serves as a new platform that replaces Skype without retaining phone calling capabilities. Microsoft ensures a smooth transfer process for Teams users who join the platform by saving their contact information and conversation data.
