Microsoft announces the closure of Skype

Microsoft has announced the definitive closure of Skype, a digital communication platform that has been in operation for 22 years. Since its launch in 2003, Skype went through several stages, being sold three times before being acquired by Microsoft in 2011 for 8.5 billion dollars. At its peak, the application had over 100 million monthly users and became the preferred option for many generations in digital communication.

Skype will now be integrated into Steams

However, over the years, Skype faced intense competition from other platforms such as Discord, Zoom, and Google Meet. As voice chat technologies became ubiquitous in alternative services, Skype began to lose its relevance. The constant revision of its user interface and the introduction of unnecessary features contributed to this decline, leading users to seek simpler and more effective alternatives.

Despite the fact that in 2023, Skype still had 36 million monthly users, this figure was considered low compared to Microsoft’s standards. Skype users have experienced an exodus to other services, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, when platforms like Zoom became the norm.

Microsoft announced that, from now on, Skype contacts and chats will be automatically transferred to Microsoft Teams, while Skype for Business users will not be affected by this closure. The closure was officially announced in February, and when trying to access the Skype download page, a 404-like error is encountered.

For those who still rely on Skype, Microsoft has indicated that it is also possible to export Skype data for personal use. However, the transition to Microsoft Teams seems to be the default direction for most users.

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