Microsoft is killing off Skype after years of decline

RIP Microsoft is planning to shut down the once-dominant video calling application, Skype. The app was highly popular among internet users in the early 2000s but has suffered persistent neglect from Microsoft in recent years as the company shifted its focus to Teams as its primary messaging and team collaboration platform. According to a hidden string found in the latest preview of Skype for Windows, Microsoft will sunset the software later this year. To inform users about the impending shutdown, the app is showing a dialog box notifying them that Skype will no longer be available starting in May 2025. Instead, users will be encouraged to download and install the free version of Teams to stay connected with friends and family. If the report is accurate, the decision will come as no surprise, as Microsoft has long neglected Skype while actively promoting Teams. The app's decline can be attributed in part to the rise of numerous OTT video calling platforms and in part to Microsoft's cl ... Read full article.