Microsoft Announces Skype Retirement in May 2025, Shifts Focus to Teams

Report by Furqan Mughal

Microsoft has officially announced that it will retire Skype in May 2025, marking the end of an era for the pioneering voice and video calling platform. Users are being directed to migrate to Microsoft Teams for continued communication services.

Skype, founded in 2003 by Niklas Zennström and Janus Friis, revolutionized internet communication with free voice calls, video conferencing, and instant messaging. The platform gained rapid global adoption, attracting 50 million registered users by 2005.

Microsoft acquired Skype in 2011 but struggled to maintain its relevance amid rising competition from apps like WhatsApp and Zoom. Jeff Teper, president of Microsoft 365 collaborative apps, stated that consolidating services under Teams will allow Microsoft to innovate faster and streamline its offerings.

Skype’s retirement signals Microsoft’s commitment to modernizing its communication platforms, with Teams now positioned as the company’s primary solution for collaboration and connectivity.