Skype announces it will close in May

Skype has announced it is closing from May.

The internet chat and phone service, which is owned by Microsoft, made the announcement on X.

It said: “Starting in May 2025, Skype will no longer be available.

“Over the coming days you can sign in to Microsoft Teams Free with your Skype account to stay connected with all your chats and contacts.

“Thank you for being part of Skype.”

Microsoft made no immediate comment when contacted by BBC News.

Skype was released in 2003 and was then bought by Microsoft in 2011 for $8.5bn (£6.1bn).

The video calling service was once one of the most popular websites in the world, as businesses and individuals embraced video calls.

As Microsoft once outlined, Skype became integrated with the company’s other products such as Xbox and Windows devices.

In December, 2010, tech industry commentator Om Malik called it one of the “key applications of the modern web”, when the website suffered a two-day global outage.

So what happened?

In June, 2021, speculation persisted that it was the beginning of the end for Skype.

When Microsoft announced Windows 11, its new operating system, it stated that Microsoft Teams – which saw a boost in popularity during the Covid pandemic as people moved their work and personal meetings online – would be integrated by default.

Skype, for the first time in years, was not.