Today marks the official end of an era: Skype, once the pioneer of internet-based video calls, has been retired by Microsoft as of May 5, 2025. After over two decades of connecting people around the world—from personal catch-ups to global business calls—Skype is now being phased out in favor of Microsoft Teams (free), as part of Microsoft’s broader strategy to streamline and modernize its communication platforms.
Key highlights of this transition:
-
Skype services discontinued: Microsoft has stopped selling Skype Credit and calling plans to new users. Existing users can continue using their plans until their billing cycle ends.
-
Post-shutdown access: Paid users will retain access to remaining Skype credits and the Dial Pad via the Skype web portal or Microsoft Teams—for a limited period.
-
Easy migration to Teams: Users can log in to Teams using their Skype credentials. All contacts, messages, and histories will migrate automatically.
-
Added value in Teams: Teams offers all of Skype's core features, plus extras like integrated calendars, collaboration tools, and community management.
Alternatives for those not continuing with Microsoft:
-
Google Meet – Great for users in the Google ecosystem; free for up to 100 participants (limited to 60 minutes with 3+ participants). Paid plans with AI features start at ₹160/month.
-
Zoom – Known for robust collaboration tools, including whiteboards, transcripts, and AI meeting summaries. Free plan limits meetings to 40 minutes. Paid plans start at ₹1,147/month.
-
Slack (Huddles) – Ideal for quick team conversations. Free plan allows one-on-one Huddles; paid plans (from ₹246/month) support up to 50 participants.
Cultural impact: Skype helped define digital communication for a generation, especially during the early 2000s and the pandemic years. Its retirement reflects the growing shift toward integrated work-and-life platforms like Teams, Meet, and Zoom, powered increasingly by AI and collaboration tools.
