Microsoft shuts down Skype to prioritise Groups – Firstpost

Microsoft on Friday introduced that it’s going to shut down its pioneer web calling service Skype to prioritise Groups going ahead. Skype, which was based in 2005 and acquired by Microsoft in 2011, disrupted the landline business within the early 2000s and made the corporate a family identify.

“Beginning in Might 2025, Skype will not be accessible. Over the approaching days you possibly can check in to Microsoft Groups Free together with your Skype account to remain related with all of your chats and contacts. Thanks for being a part of Skype,” the audio and video name service stated on X.

Beginning in Might 2025, Skype will not be accessible. Over the approaching days you possibly can check in to Microsoft Groups Free together with your Skype account to remain related with all of your chats and contacts. Thanks for being a part of Skype pic.twitter.com/EZ2wJLOQ1a

— Skype (@Skype) February 28, 2025

The platform has struggled to maintain up with easier-to-use and extra dependable rivals equivalent to Zoom and Salesforce’s Slack in recent times. The decline was partly as a result of Skype’s underlying expertise was not fitted to the smartphone period.

“With Groups, customers have entry to lots of the similar core options they use in Skype, equivalent to one-on-one calls and group calls, messaging, and file sharing. Moreover, Groups presents enhanced options like internet hosting conferences, managing calendars, and constructing and becoming a member of communities at no cost,” Microsoft stated in a press release.

The corporate stated that present Skype customers can signal into Microsoft Groups at no cost on any machine utilizing their outdated Skype credentials. “In the course of the transition interval, Groups customers can name and chat with Skype customers and Skype customers can do the identical with Groups customers. This helps guarantee you possibly can keep related with everybody, whatever the platform you’re utilizing throughout this transition,” it added.

With that, Skype will develop into the most recent in a collection of high-flying bets that Microsoft has mishandled, such because the Web Explorer internet browser and its Home windows Cellphone. Different huge tech corporations have additionally struggled with on-line communication instruments, with Google making a number of makes an attempt by apps together with Hangouts and Duo.

With inputs from Reuters