Microsoft retires Skype, internet call pioneer

Microsoft on Friday announced it was retiring Skype, the online voice and video call pioneer that the tech titan acquired in 2011. "Starting in May 2025, Skype will no longer be available," said a post from Skype support on X, directing users to sign into Microsoft's Teams platform for further use of its services.

Microsoft said that Skype group chats would remain intact in the transition to Teams and that during a 60-day window, messages on Microsoft and Teams will be interoperable so users can message contacts from Teams and those messages will be delivered to friends still using Skype.

In one big change, Microsoft is removing Skype's telephony features, meaning it will no longer be able to call regular phone numbers, cell phones, or make international calls through the service.