Skype shuts down to make room for Teams

Skype will close after 23 years in business, as owner Microsoft focuses on boosting its communication and customer service offerings through the Teams app.

The tech giant said that Skype will cease its services on 5 May.

Jeff Teper, president collaborative apps and platforms at Microsoft, explained that Teams already gives users free access to many of the same core features used in Skype, such as individual and group calls, messaging and file sharing while offering additional services such as hosting meetings, managing calendars and creating and joining communities.

“The way we communicate has evolved significantly over the years,” he said. “From instant messaging to video calls, technology has continuously transformed how we connect with each other.”

Microsoft added that its customers’ usage on Teams has been steadily increasing over time, with the tech giant reporting that users have been increasing the minutes spent in Teams meetings by four times over the past two years.

During the transition period, current Skype users will be able to switch to Teams while keeping the same credentials.

Until May, Teams and Skype users will be able to communicate with each other for free.

Skype account holders will also be able to export their data and continue to use their remaining credit.

After May 5, 2025, the Skype Dial Pad will be available to remaining paid users from the Skype web portal and within Teams.   

The app, which was first introduced in 2003, was invented by Niklas Zennström from Sweden and Janus Friis from Denmark, along with four Estonian developers: Ahti Heinla, Priit Kasesalu, Jaan Tallinn, and Toivo Annus.

Microsoft announced its acquisition of Skype on May 10, 2011, in a deal valued at $8.5 billion, the company’s largest acquisition at the time.

As of 2025, Skype has approximately 300 million monthly active users and 40 million daily active users, remaining a popular choice for personal and work communications. Most users are based in the US.

“Skype has been an integral part of shaping modern communications and supporting countless meaningful moments, and we are honoured to have been part of the journey,” Teper said.