Skype will be shut down as early as today, May 5: Microsoft leaves us Teams

Skype was once synonymous with video calling. Launched in 2003, it quickly became popular around the world – even before FaceTime, Zoom and other competitors. But after Microsoft acquired it in 2011 for $8.5 billion, the platform began to lose ground. And now, two decades later, Skype is gone for good.

Why Skype is shutting down, and what Microsoft is offering in return

Despite numerous attempts to “revitalize” Skype – introducing new features, redesigns and integrations – Microsoft has failed to bring the platform back to its former popularity. With Zoom, Google Meet, Telegram and FaceTime booming, interest in Skype has waned rapidly.

In February, Microsoft officially announced the complete shutdown of Skype for regular users – both free and paid. Today, on May 5, 2025, the service will end.

But you won’t be left completely without video calling. Microsoft is encouraging everyone to switch to Teams, an enterprise platform that has long been a priority in the company’s ecosystem.

What’s left of Skype: Not much, but something will be there

On its support blog, Microsoft clarifies: Skype users will be able to upgrade to the free Teams version. It offers basic features like private and group calls, chats, file sharing, and calendar integration.

• The ability to call regular numbers and receive calls on your Skype Number will disappear.
• The 70-minute calling feature available in Microsoft 365 Personal and Family subscriptions will be removed as of March 2026.
• Users will be able to use Skype’s built-in keyboard (Dial Pad) in the Teams web portal – but only as part of paid access.

In return, Microsoft promises that Teams Free will let you chat for up to 30 hours with up to 300 people – which will be enough for most users.

What does this mean for Skype users?

Skype’s farewell to a familiar platform is an ambiguous moment. On the one hand, Skype has long since lost its relevance and is losing out to more modern solutions. On the other, it’s the end of an era.

Microsoft says Teams could be a full-fledged replacement. But the question remains: Will the masses want to migrate to a platform designed primarily for business?

The article Skype will shut down today, May 5: Microsoft leaves us Teams was first published on ITZine.ru.