Skype to Cease Operations on May 5
On May 5, the curtains will fall on Skype, the storied video call and messaging service. Microsoft has reached out to users, gently nudging them toward its newer platform, Teams. Launched in 2017 as a hub for corporate collaboration, Teams facilitates group video calls and seamless information sharing.
For personal use, Teams offers a free version that lets users create chats with family and friends, plan events together, and connect in groups of up to 100 people. However, calls are capped at 60 minutes.
Skype users can glide into Teams at no cost, carrying over their existing login details. Microsoft promises a smooth transfer of all contacts and chat histories.
Data stored in Skype will remain accessible until January 2026, with options to export or manually delete it. If left untouched, the data will be automatically erased early next year. Any funds lingering in Skype accounts can be used within Teams.
Since its debut in 2003, Skype carved out a place as a beloved tool for connection. Microsoft scooped it up in 2011 for $8.5 billion. But with Teams taking center stage, support for Skype’s business version waned. Whispers of the service’s final closure first surfaced in late February.
