Microsoft Skype: Microsoft to shut down Skype on May 5

Microsoft is about to pull the plug on the offering that changed the world: the Internet calling service. By May 5th, Skype will come to a final conclusion. Skype, as we know, is 23 years old and is marking its end after leading the market for Internet calls all these years. Microsoft has stated previously that they plan to disband the app on May 5 since they acquired it 14 years ago, enabling them to focus more on Teams.

Users of Skype have until the end of the week to manage how they want their accounts handled. Back in 2003, Skype gained immense fame for cutting down costs associated with voice and video calls, thus providing an easier alternative to landline phones which made it possible to gain hundreds of millions of users. 

Though, in the past few years, competitors like Zoom and Slack have streamlined themselves so much that Skype is unable to innovate itself and stand up to the competition. Experts highlight many components to this problem. One main issue with Skype that is heavily problematic is there's no compatibility with modern day specific devices which means there's little to no work from smartphones. During the pandemic, Microsoft seized the opportunity to push out Teams with Office apps which made it easier for Microsoft to appeal to businesses and corporations, the vetaned users of Skype.

The organization claimed that to facilitate an effortless migration, Skype users are able to sign in to Teams at no cost on any compatible device and will automatically have their credentials migrated. Their chats and contacts will be moved over as well. Like Internet Explorer and Windows Phone, Skype is among the Microsoft failed ventures that were once the best in the market. Other tech giants have also faced challenges in the online communications space as Google has launched and closed down several applications like Hangouts and Duo.