Skype Officially Shuts Down After Over Two Decades

After more than two decades of connecting the world, Skype has officially been shut down by Microsoft on May 5, 2025. The once-groundbreaking video and voice call service, launched in 2003, revolutionized online communication. It offered free international video and audio calls through VoIP technology. Skype quickly gained popularity, reaching 400 million users by 2007. Microsoft acquired it in 2011 for $8.5 billion. However, with the rise of mobile messaging apps like WhatsApp and FaceTime, and the emergence of Zoom, Skype's dominance waned. Microsoft announced Skype's retirement in February 2025 to streamline communication tools and promote Teams. Users can still access their Skype chat histories and contacts through Microsoft Teams. Data can be exported until January 2026.