Microsoft He has confirmed what many anticipated: Skypethe telecommunications program that for 22 years defined the way millions connected, It will officially close Its doors this May 2025. His successor, Microsoft Teams, will inherit not only its functions, but also the challenge of filling the void left by a tool that, in its apogee, was synonymous with innovation.
Skype’s trajectory
Released in 2003, Skype revolutionized communication by offering High quality voice and video calls -There with instant messaging-, in an era where connections dial-up They still competed with the ADSL. His model all in one made him a global phenomenon, attracting More than 100 million monthly users at your best.
His corporate history was equally dynamic: first sold to EBAY in 2005, then to the Canadian Fund CPPIB, and finally acquired by Microsoft in 2011 by 8,500 million dollars. Under the umbrella of the Redmond company, Skype joined Xbox devices, PlayStation Vita and smartphones, becoming a multiplatform standard.
However, as a long time development behind him, Skype faced a gradual decline. For a generation -especially those who grew up with their iconic call tone -the platform was a ritual: Virtual meetings, video calls with relatives abroad and group chats that survived Windows reinforcements. But over time, Microsoft’s competition and decisions accelerated their obsolescence.
What has done to Skype?
While platforms like Discord (2015) became the home of the gamers and online communities with custom servers and low latency, Skype drowned in updates that were not well worked. Microsoft introduced ephemeral functions such as Skype Mojis, integration with MySpace and a mysterious tool called Skype Qik … that even the most faithful users ignored.
Pandemia was the final blow. Although Skype offered video calls, Zoom y Google Meet They rose as favorites for their simplicity of use. By 2023, Skype had only 36 million active users, an irrelevant figure for Microsoft standards, which had already clearly bet on Teams.
Microsoft Teams, his heir
According to the official statement, Microsoft will withdraw Skype for “simplify your communication offer and better adapt to modern needs“. Teams, initially focused on work environments, is now positioned as a hub integral for all types of users (combining calls, messaging, calendar management and communities).
- The transition will be gradual, and for what the Redmond firm has indicated, users are offered two options In the generational jump:
- Migrate to Teams for free, retaining their contacts and chats when I logo with their Skype credentials.
- Export your data (chat history, contacts, etc.) before the deadline.
Until this month of May 2025, both services will coexist, allowing cross communication. For many, however, The reluctance to migrate to Teams lies in its perception as a business tool. Can Microsoft convince casual users to adopt it to call their grandmothers or organize virtual parties?
Unifying the personal and the professional with Teams?
Teams bets to be more than Slack or Zoom: wants to be the place where you work, study and socialize. With functions such as free communities, integration with Office 365 and capacity for mass meetings, Microsoft seeks create a unified ecosystem. For now, yes, the transition is already inevitable.
How to prepare to leave Skype
If you still use Skype, these are the key steps that you must take into account so that everything goes to the perfection When migrating to Teams:
- Download Teams From the official site and then log in with your Skype account.
- Explore your functions: From sharing screen to create events in calendar.
- Export your data If you prefer not to migrate (guide available in the Microsoft support).
Contrary to other developments, Skype no disappear by technical failures, but for the Natural Evolution of Technology. Its closure marks the end of one chapter, but also the beginning of another, where communication continues to break barriers. While we adjust our microphones for meetings in Teams, it is worth remembering that program that taught us to stay connected, a pixel at the same time.
