Voice and video platform, Skype, is shutting down.
This development comes nearly 22 years after the platform came into existence.
On February 28, Microsoft announced it would retire Skype on May 5 to streamline its services and prioritise Teams for communication and collaboration.
In 2011, Microsoft acquired Skype for $8.5 billion. At the time of acquisition, the organisation stated that it planned to make Skype a central part of its communications strategy.
This plan, however, faced stiff competition from platforms like WhatsApp and Zoom.
Microsoft’s own Teams also gained traction, which affected Skype’s popularity.
Launched in 2003, Skype quickly became a revolutionary tool for free voice and video calls over the internet, amassing more than 300 million monthly users at its peak in the mid-2010s.
The shutdown will impact both free and paid Skype users, although Skype for Business will continue temporarily.
Microsoft has urged users to transition to Teams by visiting skype.com and utilising the “Start using Teams” feature. All Skype chats and contacts will remain accessible through Teams using the same login credentials.