Skype, is officially shutting down. After two decades of connecting people around the world, Microsoft has announced that Skype will no longer be available starting in May.
The Rise and Fall of Skype
Launched in 2003 in Estonia, Skype revolutionized communication by offering free voice and video calls, making international calls accessible like never before. It quickly became a household name and caught the attention of major tech companies.
- 2005: eBay purchased Skype for $2.6 billion.
- 2009: eBay sold 65% of Skype to an investor group for $1.9 billion.
- 2011: Microsoft acquired Skype for $8.5 billion, making it the company’s largest acquisition at the time.
Despite its strong start, Skype struggled to maintain dominance in a rapidly evolving market. The rise of competitors like Zoom, FaceTime, WhatsApp, and Google Meet, combined with Microsoft’s heavy investment in Teams, gradually pushed Skype to the sidelines.
Microsoft’s Future Plans
Microsoft is directing Skype users to its Teams platform, which will offer a free tier for personal users. While Skype played a crucial role in shaping modern communication, Microsoft is now betting on Teams as the future of collaboration.
As Skype fades into history, it remains a symbol of early internet innovation—a platform that once changed how the world stayed connected.
