Skype Is Finally Shutting Down on May 5

Microsoft is retiring Skype on May 5, 2025, ending its 14-year ownership. Acquired in 2011 for $8.5 billion, Skype once boasted over 300 million monthly users. Its popularity declined significantly in recent years due to competition from platforms like Zoom, WhatsApp, and Microsoft Teams. Microsoft Teams now has 320 million monthly users, overshadowing Skype's remaining 36 million. The retirement aligns with Microsoft's focus on AI integration within Teams. Skype employees will be reassigned within the company. Skype's impact includes popularizing VoIP and pioneering AI-powered translation. However, issues like UI changes and reliability contributed to its decline. Users must migrate their data before the May 5th deadline.