Microsoft’s Skype retires on this date as Teams grabs the spotlight: No layoffs expected

Founded in 2003, Skype has been an integral part of shaping modern communications. Microsoft bought the online audio and video calling platform in 2011 for $8.5 billion after outbidding Google and Facebook – its largest deal at the time.

But Skype is going to ring for the last time on May 5 as Microsoft Teams grabs the spotlight. Retiring the internet calling platform is going to help Microsoft focus more on its Teams option by simplifying its communication offerings.

In the early 2000s, Skype disrupted the landline industry and made itself a household name, boasting hundreds of millions of users at its peak. But the platform has lately been struggling to address the competition coming from easier-to-use Zoom and Slack.

The decline is partly because Skype’s underlying technology is not suited for the smartphone era. To ease the transition from the platform, users can log into Teams or any supported device using there existing credentials. Chats and contacts shall migrate automatically.