Microsoft just dropped a bombshell: Skype, the video-calling pioneer that revolutionized digital communication since 2003, will officially retire in May. After two decades of connecting millions globally, its features will merge with Microsoft Teams. 💬✨
The tech giant announced Friday that Teams will absorb Skype's services – a move signaling Microsoft's bid to consolidate its tools amid fierce competition from Zoom and Slack. Existing Skype users can migrate their accounts directly to Teams.
Born in Estonia and later acquired for $8.5 billion by Microsoft in 2011, Skype democratized video calls long before remote work became mainstream. 🛠️ "It transformed everyday people into global communicators overnight," says Barbara Larson, a Northeastern University professor who studies virtual collaboration.
From startup boardrooms to families bridging continents, Skype became synonymous with free international calls. Remember when Trump’s team used it for press briefings in 2017? 📹 That same year, Microsoft launched Teams – a Slack-inspired pivot to workplace chat that exploded during COVID-19 lockdowns.
While newer platforms dominate today, Skype’s legacy remains undeniable. As Larson puts it: "Skype turned your laptop into a passport – no Fortune 500 job required." 🌍💻
