Microsoft recently announced that Skype, the 21-year-old calling and messaging platform, will officially shut down on May 5. The company has now been encouraging users to transition to its free Teams app, which will now support Skype credentials and chats.
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Microsoft 365 President Jeff Teper reportedly stated on Friday, February 28, that the company had incorporated many of Skype’s best features into Teams over the past several years. "We felt like now is the time because we can be simpler for the market, for our customer base, and we can deliver more innovation faster just by being focused on Teams," Teper said.
In the coming days, Microsoft will allow users to sign in to Teams using their Skype credentials, ensuring that contacts and chat history are transferred seamlessly. Additionally, Skype users have been advised to export their data, while those with monthly subscriptions or credit balances will be able to continue using them in Teams.
Skype gained widespread popularity in the 2000s by allowing people to make free calls over the internet, but struggled to maintain its footing in the mobile era. Despite being an early pioneer in audio and video calling, it struggled to see a major resurgence even during the drawn out COVID-19 pandemic when remote communication tools surged in demand.
