Microsoft to Shut Down Skype in Could to Prioritise Groups App

Microsoft has introduced that it’s shutting down Skype — its legacy video-conferencing platform — beginning Could 5, 2025. Debuted in 2003, it was recognized for its Voice over Web Protocol (VoIP)-based video telephony, video-conferencing and voice calling capabilities which led to its acquisition by the Redmond-based know-how firm in 2011. Though Microsoft in 2023 revealed that the platform nonetheless had 36 million customers, its market share has decreased over time, with Microsoft’s personal Groups app providing comparable core options along with extra performance.

Skype Shutdown

As per Microsoft, it goals to streamline its free client communications choices by making Groups the “fashionable communications and collaboration hub.” Apart from its one-on-one calls and group calls, messaging, and file sharing options, it provides extra in depth performance over Skype, together with the flexibility to host conferences, handle calendars, and construct and be part of communities free of charge. Microsoft reviews that its video conferencing platform has grown almost fourfold previously two years, a surge initially pushed by the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020 as customers sought to remain related for work, faculty, and private use.

Skype Credit score, subscriptions, and different paid options will now not be supplied to customers, the tech large says. Present Skype subscription customers can proceed to make use of their Skype Credit and subscriptions till the tip of their subsequent renewal interval, whereas Skype Credit can be utilized until exhaustion. Beginning Could 5, Skype Dial Pad will probably be obtainable to remaining paid customers from the Skype net portal and inside Groups.

With Skype’s deliberate phasing out, Microsoft says they are going to be capable to login to the free model of Groups utilizing their present Skype credentials on any supported machine. Chats in addition to contacts will routinely be migrated to the brand new platform. To maneuver from Skype to Microsoft Groups, customers have to:

1. Obtain Groups on their machine from the official Microsoft Groups web site. 
2. Log in with Skype credentials. 
3. Begin utilizing Groups with all of the Skype chats and contacts obtainable from the offset.

Additional, the tech large is ensuring customers don’t lose their connectivity throughout this transition interval by permitting cross-platform calling. Microsoft Groups customers will be capable to name these with Skype accounts and vice versa.