Microsoft to shut down Skype on May 5

(Web Desk): Microsoft will shut down Skype on May 5 after more than 20 years of service.

The decision is part of the company’s plan to focus on its Teams platform, which is designed for business communication. Skype, which started in 2003, was a game-changer by offering free voice and video calls across the world, challenging traditional phone services. At its peak, it had hundreds of millions of users.

However, Skype couldn’t keep up with newer, easier-to-use apps like Zoom and Slack, especially as mobile technology improved. Microsoft’s push to develop Teams, which it linked with its Office apps, led to a decline in Skype's popularity.

To help users switch, Microsoft is offering free access to Teams, and contacts and chat histories will be automatically moved. Skype’s user base had fallen to about 23 million by 2020, while Teams now has about 320 million active users each month.

Microsoft bought Skype for $8.5 billion in 2011 and thanked the platform for its role in modern communication. There will be no job losses due to Skype’s shutdown. Skype is joining other Microsoft projects, like Internet Explorer and Windows Phone, that didn't meet expectations.