Skype was once the go-to name for staying connected, making it easy for people to talk no matter where they were. This app has been used by hundreds of millions of people worldwide for a whole 20 years. But in one minute, new technologies emerge as the next big thing, and the old ones, like Skype, fade into history, which really shows how fast technology changes.
In this article, we’ll break down why has Skype shut down, explaining all the factors that led to this decision. But first, let’s dive into the story of how this era started.
Quick Look Back Before the Skype Shutdown
Back in the early 2000s, long before Microsoft Skype shutdown, the internet was opening up a world of new possibilities, and peer-to-peer (p2p) technology was a big part of that. Swedish entrepreneur Niklas Zennström and Danish developer Janus Friis, who had already worked together on KaZaA, the popular file-sharing platform, realized that they could take the same idea and use it to make phone calls but over the Internet. Thus, Skype was born.
A group of Estonian developers took that concept and made it happen. They were able to build a system that let people talk to each other without needing a regular phone line. Skype changed all, letting people talk for free to friends and family around the globe, without the huge phone bills. At times when international calls were costly, Skype was like a true miracle.
Skype’s first public beta was launched on August 29, 2003, and it took off almost overnight. It was easy to use, and for the first time, people could make free calls no matter where they were. Unlike other VoIP services at the time, Skype’s p2p system made call quality better and connections more reliable. By the end of its first year, more than 50 million people had downloaded Skype, proving there was a massive demand for a cheaper, easier way to communicate.
As Skype grew, еBay saw potential and bought the company for a whоpping $2.6B in 2005. They planned to integrate Skype into their marketplace so buyers and sellers could communicate even more easily. But things didn’t work out the way they hoped, and by 2009, eBay decided to sell Skype to a group of investors. Despite that, Skype continued to improve.
In 2006, it added a video calling feature, enabling users to talk face-to-face from anywhere, which significantly boosted its popularity. By 2010, Skype had over 660M registered users, with approximately 124M of monthly users. In 2011, Microsoft acquired Skype for $8.5B, making it their largest purchase at the time. Microsoft planned to integrate Skype into Windows, Office, and Xbox, strengthening their position in online communication and competing with services like Apple’s FaceTime and Google Hangouts. This move marked the beginning of major changes for Skype.
In 2013, Skype fully replaced Windows Live Messenger, consolidating Microsoft’s messaging services under one brand. The platform’s integration with Microsoft products helped it remain the go-to tool for video calls, voice chats, and file sharing.
However, after all these years, Microsoft has shut down Skype. So, what led to this decision? Let’s explore.
Why Has Skype Shut Down?
Microsoft has shut down Skype and shifted users to Teams. But why did this happen?
Skype was once the go-to platform for video calls and voice chats, but in recent years, its user base has steadily reduced. Back in 2016, Skype had around 300M active users, but by 2023, that number had dropped to just 36M. This shift was mainly due to relatively newer platforms like Zoom, FaceTime, WhatsApp, and Google Meet, which offered more user-friendly features and a smoother overall user experience. As a result, people started to leave Skype behind in favor of these communication platforms.
COVID-19 was a key breaking point for Skype. With so many people working remotely and relying on video calls to stay in touch, the demand for reliable communication tools exploded. While Zoom and Microsoft Teams quickly became the go-to platforms for businesses and people, Skype struggled to keep pace with such shifts. It couldn’t innovate quickly enough to meet the needs of the moment, and as a result, it was left behind.
Back in 2016, Microsoft started focusing on Teams as the go-to solution for communication and collaboration. It does everything Skype did: video calls, messaging, file sharing, but with even more perks. Teams brought in features like calendar management, project collaboration tools, and better file sharing integration. For anyone already using Microsoft products like Outlook and OneDrive, it became the obvious choice. With all these added capabilities, it didn’t take long for Teams to become the preferred platform for both work and personal communication.
Skype closing down is part of Microsoft’s broader strategy to streamline its communication tools. By focusing solely on Teams, Microsoft can dedicate more resources to improving one platform rather than spreading itself thin across multiple services.
One more reason that lead to Skype’s retirement was its inability to keep up with the rapid pace of innovation seen in other communication platforms. While all alternatives were introducing new features like AI integration and enhanced security, Skype stayed largely the same place. Therefore, Microsoft recognized that Teams had the potential to be more forward-thinking and capable of meeting future communication needs, so it decided to double down on it.
So, Microsoft has shut down Skype and directed users to Teams, putting all of its efforts into making this application even better.
When Did Skype Shut Down?
Microsoft has officially announced May 5 as Skype shutdown, marking the end of an era for one of the internet’s most iconic communication tools. After that date, Skype is not available anymore. But no worries, if you were a Skype user, you can easily switch to Microsoft Teams by logging in with your existing Skype credentials, and all your chats and contacts will move over automatically. If you’d prefer not to make the switch, you’ll still have the option to export your data.
Let’s take a look at how to stay secure at Microsoft Teams.
Stay EXTRA SAFE on Microsoft Teams
Yet, if you’ve decided to switch to Microsoft Teams, here are a few tips on how to make your meetings more secure:
Enable Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA): Always use MFA to ensure that only authorized users can join your meetings.
Set Meeting Permissions: Limit who can join your meetings and control who can share content or speak during a meeting.
Use End-to-End Encryption (E2EE): Enable E2EE for sensitive discussions to ensure that no one but the intended participants can hear or see the conversation.
Control Guest Access: Keep track of guest access to Teams channels and ensure external users are given only the permissions they need to collaborate securely.
Review and Update Permissions Regularly: Periodically review user permissions and access controls within Teams, ensuring that only those who need access can view sensitive data and resources.
Use Alternative Secure Conferencing Apps: If privacy is your main concern and you don't want to bother with all the staff, consider using p2p conferencing apps like EXTRA SAFE. It is available for free, doesn’t require registration, and ensures no data is left behind to be compromised.
EXTRA SAFE - One of the Most Secure Skype Alternatives
Now, let’s dive deeper into the EXTRA SAFE advantages.
Microsoft Teams is a great communication tool with strong corporate security and is well-suited for large companies with internal ecosystems. But if you're looking for a truly private and secure Skype alternative, we suggest considering EXTRA SAFE.
EXTRA SAFE is a secure, private, no-registration, peer-to-peer video meetings designed for sensitive online conversations. All meeting data is transmitted directly between you and your colleague, encryption keys are generated on your device and never leave it (unlike most popular video conferencing apps) and all meeting data is destroyed immediately after the meeting ends, leaving no digital footprint.
This is the only solution that gives real peace of mind when it comes to sensitive online conversations.
It's free and requires no personal information. Try it now at extrasafe.chat.