It seems quite expected, but according to XDA Developers, the most recent preview of Skype for Windows may be hinting at its upcoming closure within a few months. Notably, this new version includes a concealed message stating: “From May onwards, Skype will no longer be accessible. Carry on with your conversations and calls in Teams.” At present, further information is scarce, but it certainly seems like the end may be near for Skype.
Initially introduced in 2003, Skype rapidly became a highly favored platform for voice-over-IP messaging during its prime. Later on, Microsoft took over Skype ownership in 2011 at a cost of $8.5 billion. Since then, Microsoft has been trying to incorporate Skype into various products like Windows, Windows Phone, and even Xbox.
Over the past ten years, the company has frequently revamped and restructured Skype, with several major overhauls. One significant change was dividing the app to align it with the messaging and phone apps of Windows 10 Mobile, aiming to make it a strong competitor to iMessage.
In recent years, Skype has seen less attention from Microsoft. During the pandemic, Microsoft didn’t effectively promote Skype as a suitable alternative, causing it to be overshadowed by consumers in favor of newer services like Telegram, WhatsApp, iMessage, and Discord.
Microsoft constructed its widely-used Teams platform for corporate clients using Skype as a foundation, yet the user experiences between these two applications are noticeably distinct. It appears that Microsoft may be urging Skype’s remaining users to transition to the consumer version of Teams, although this is speculation.
As a tech enthusiast, I find myself consistently disappointed with Skype in its current state. It feels more like a dilapidated messaging platform than a modern solution. The web-based application on Windows, for me, is sluggish and falls short when it comes to synchronizing conversations and notifications seamlessly across devices. To add insult to injury, the app fails to support Windows on Arm – a technology Microsoft has been advocating for adoption over the past five years.
Over the past few years, I’ve been part of an exciting journey with Microsoft, exploring ways to breathe new life into Skype. One such initiative was the development of Skype Clips, a feature that enables users to exchange brief video messages without the need for a call. More recently, in 2024, we expanded our offerings by integrating Copilot, self-messaging, and a refreshed mobile experience, all aimed at staying competitive within the market.
It appears that nothing we’ve tried has made much of an impact, as the service remains relatively unpopular. The last significant update for Skype took place in May 2024. Not long ago, Microsoft discontinued their Skype Number service, which enabled users to purchase a real phone number that could be used to call non-Skype numbers.
It appears that Skype may soon be phased out. Although Microsoft hasn’t made an official statement about discontinuing Skype, we’ll keep you informed as more details emerge. In the meantime, we’ve requested a comment from Microsoft and will update this post once we receive a response.
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2025-02-28 06:39