Microsoft to Discontinue Skype Services

Microsoft has announced that it is shutting down service for its Skype telecommunications and video calling services on May 5, 2025.

The service, which was acquired 14 years ago for $8.5 billion, is being retired in favor of Microsoft Teams — which the company said already includes most of Skype's features. "With Teams, users have access to many of the same core features they use in Skype, such as one-on-one calls and group calls, messaging, and file sharing," said Jeff Teper, president for Microsoft's Collaborative Apps and Platforms division, in a blog post. "Additionally, Teams offers enhanced features like hosting meetings, managing calendars, and building and joining communities for free."  

Paid Skype features, including Skype Credit and phone call subscriptions, will no longer be available.  Current subscribers can continue using their existing Skype Credit and subscriptions until the end of their next renewal period, the company confirmed. Users with remaining Skype Credit will still be able to use their balance until the service officially shuts down.

Microsoft said those who have not made the jump from Skype to Teams can do so by logging into the newer service with their Skype credentials. Conversations and contacts will automatically transfer. Before Skype officially shuts down, Teams users will be able to communicate with those still on Skype, and vice versa.

For those that do not wish to migrate to Teams, Microsoft is offering the ability to export their contact and chat data before the service is halted in early May.

Skype for Business Online, which became redundant with the introduction of Microsoft Teams, shut down in 2021. Microsoft's previous two on-premises versions, Skype for Business Server 2016 and Skype for Business Server 2019, will lose support this October. They will be replaced by Skype for Business Server SE, although Microsoft recommends that business users also make the jump to Teams.

About the Author

Chris Paoli (@ChrisPaoli5) is the associate editor for Converge360.

Featured

  • abstract human figures stand on a glowing grid floor in a vibrant digital landscape with floating holographic buildings, luminous data orbs, and a neon blue and purple gradient sky

    Metaverse Org Declares the Technology Is Accelerating in Spite of Rise of AI

    A new report from the Metaverse Standards Forum (MSF) declares the technology initiative is alive and well, despite skyrocketing attention paid to artificial intelligence.

  • Three cubes of noticeably increasing sizes are arranged in a straight row on a subtle abstract background

    A Sense of Scale

    Gardner Campbell explores the notion of scale in education and shares some of his own experience "playing with scale" — scaling up and/or scaling down — in an English course at VCU.

  • college building with a central domed rotunda, arched windows, and columns, overlaid with glowing blue circuit patterns

    Kishwaukee College Moves to Ellucian Colleague SaaS

    Illinois's Kishwaukee College is modernizing its administrative systems with an Ellucian Colleague SaaS rollout that will bring AI-powered tools to human resources, finance, and student management.

  • Two figures, one male and one female, stand beside a transparent digital interface displaying AI symbols like neural networks, code, and a shield, against a clean blue gradient background.

    Report Makes Business Case for Responsible AI

    A new report commissioned by Microsoft and published last month by research firm IDC notes that 91% of organizations use AI tech and expect more than a 24% improvement in customer experience, business resilience, sustainability, and operational efficiency due to AI in 2024.