Skype, the once-iconic video-calling service that captured the hearts of hundreds of millions across the globe, is set to close its virtual doors in May, as revealed by its parent company, Microsoft.
This pioneering platform was not merely a website; it served as a digital bridge connecting families and friends worldwide, enabling them to share voice calls freely via their computers. Although not the first to offer such a service, Skype revolutionized the idea by introducing free computer-to-computer calls for the masses.
In a poignant announcement on X, Skype informed its users that they can continue their online connections by signing into Microsoft Teams with their existing Skype accounts, ensuring no conversation or contact is lost.
First released in 2003, Skype was acquired by the renowned tech giant in 2011 for an astonishing $8.5 billion (£6.1 billion) – marking its largest acquisition ever at that time.
As Microsoft detailed, Skype was seamlessly integrated with the company’s expansive suite of products, including Xbox and Windows devices.
In December 2010, renowned tech industry commentator Om Malik praised it as one of the “key applications of the modern web,” during an unfortunate two-day global outage the website experienced.