Abishek D Praphullalumar
It’s the end of an era Skype officially shuts down today. Microsoft is retiring the iconic VoIP platform after more than two decades in operation. Users are being encouraged to transition to Microsoft Teams (free), where Skype credentials, contacts, and chat histories will migrate automatically.
While Teams (free) inherits some of Skype’s functionality, there are compromises. Group video calls are capped at 60 minutes, and popular pay-as-you-go features like Skype Credit for calling and SMS won’t carry over. Users have until January 2026 to export their Skype data, after which it will be permanently deleted.
Microsoft cited the move as part of “streamlining our free consumer communications offerings” to adapt to changing user needs. Launched in 2003 and acquired by Microsoft in 2011, Skype was a pioneer in VoIP technology, transforming how people connected globally. Though it bows out today, Skype’s legacy will live on through Teams and the countless video calls and chats that shaped a digital generation.
