Microsoft is retiring Skype
/Just months after a major overhaul of the app, Microsoft has announced that it is shutting down Skype. Initially launched in 2003, Skype was a pioneering program in making video calls accessible to the masses. Microsoft said in its announcement that the program will be retired on 5th May 2025.
Thankfully, all Skype users will be provided with a free consumer version of Microsoft Teams, and will be able to log into Teams with their Skype credentials. From there, Microsoft says, the user will have access to their message history, group chats, and contacts. Alternatively, if users wish to create a new account entirely, the option to export this data will be available as well.
Google adds searchable video transcripts to Drive
One feature that is being left behind with Skype is the ability to call domestic and international numbers via the app. “Part of the reason is we look at the usage and the trends, and this functionality was great at the time when voice over IP (VoIP) wasn’t available and mobile data plans were very expensive,” explains Amit Fulay, vice president of product at Microsoft, according to The Verge. “If we look at the future, that’s not a thing we want to be in.”
