On May 5, Microsoft formally closed Skype, ending the video calling service that had been a mainstay of online communication for years.
The move, announced in February, is part of Microsoft's overall plan to consolidate its communication services. In the future, the company has turned its attention to Microsoft Teams (free), which will be the hub platform for collaboration and communication.
In a February 28 blog post, Microsoft said that the decision to sunset Skype was meant to better align with the changing needs of consumers. As part of that shift, the company ceased selling Skype Credit and calling feature plans to new subscribers. Current subscribers, though, are free to keep using the service until the end of their billing cycle, and any leftover Skype credit remains. The Skype Dial Pad will remain available to paid customers through the Skype web portal and in Teams until May 5, 2025.
In the timeframe from February through May, Microsoft gave a transition window to help users move to Teams. Users can sign in to Teams with their Skype account, and their data and settings will be copied over seamlessly. For those who do not want to make the transition, there is a way to export their data, including chats, contacts, and call history. Teams incorporates most of the features that Skype users were accustomed to, as well as new features such as calendar integration and community spaces to enable collaboration.
For those looking for alternatives to Skype, there are a number of platforms that provide similar features:
Google Meet: Free with a Google account, Google Meet provides video calls with up to 100 participants, screen sharing, and recording of meetings. Group calls are capped at 60 minutes in the free version, but longer periods and other premium features can be accessed through paid plans.
Zoom: A crowd favorite for web conferencing, Zoom has capacity for 100 participants per session. It also features private and public chat, screen sharing, virtual whiteboard, note-taking capabilities, and recording of meetings with transcript.
These substitutes offer users plenty of options for video communication and collaboration after the retirement of Skype.
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