Beta Edition

Saturday, 30 Aug 2025

Microsoft kills Skype

News Desk
Published: Tuesday, May 6, 2025 02:42 PM
Microsoft kills Skype

Pioneering internet calling service Skype officially shut down on May 5, 2025, after nearly 22 years in operation, according to Microsoft. The company is shifting focus to promoting its Teams application instead.

The service was originally launched in August 2003 by Niklas Zennstrom, Janus Friis, and four other Estonian developers, offering users the ability to make free or low-cost voice and video calls over the internet. The program’s name was derived from “sky peer-to-peer” – how the developers described its functionality.

It soon became a global phenomenon, allowing both Skype-to-Skype calls and calls to traditional landlines and mobile phones. At its peak, Skype had more than 300 million monthly users in the mid-2010s and was widely regarded as a pioneer in internet-based communication.

Skype changed hands several times over the years before being acquired by Microsoft in 2011 for $8.5 billion. The company has since gradually shifted resources toward its Teams platform, which is now being positioned as its primary product for business and personal communications.

The rise of competing services such as Zoom, WhatsApp, FaceTime, and Google Meet ultimately contributed to Skype’s declining popularity in recent years. In late February 2025, Microsoft announced that it would shut down Skype and urged users to transition to Teams, allowing them to keep their old contacts and chat history. The company said that the data will be available to transfer until January 2026, after which it will be permanently deleted.

Despite its decline, many users have shared tributes to Skype on social media, calling its shutting down “the end of an era” and reminiscing on how it was one of the first programs they used to stay in touch with friends, loved ones, and colleagues.

HN/MM

Dhaka-Chittagong highway blocked in protest against attack on VP Nur

Dhaka-Chittagong highway blocked in protest against attack on VP Nur

Chief advisor inquires about Noor's treatment, assures fair investigation

Chief advisor inquires about Noor's treatment, assures fair investigation

US blocks Palestinian leaders from attending UN session

US blocks Palestinian leaders from attending UN session

Israel plans to halt Gaza City aid drops to force Palestinians' evacuation ahead of city assault

Israel plans to halt Gaza City aid drops to force Palestinians' evacuation ahead of city assault

Most of Trump's tariffs are illegal: US court

Most of Trump's tariffs are illegal: US court

US blocks Palestinian officials from attending UNGA as countries prepare to recognize Palestine

US blocks Palestinian officials from attending UNGA as countries prepare to recognize Palestine

Janata Bank Asset-Liability Management Committee Meeting Held

Janata Bank Asset-Liability Management Committee Meeting Held

BUET students hold torchlight procession to protest police attack

BUET students hold torchlight procession to protest police attack

Israeli army declares Gaza City ‘dangerous combat zone’

Israeli army declares Gaza City ‘dangerous combat zone’

No one can be considered a foreigner just for speaking Bengali, says Supreme Court of India

No one can be considered a foreigner just for speaking Bengali, says Supreme Court of India

Thai court orders dismissal of Prime Minister Phatthana Shinawatra

Thai court orders dismissal of Prime Minister Phatthana Shinawatra

Former minister Latif Siddiqui detained

Former minister Latif Siddiqui detained

Complete shutdown underway at all engineering universities, including BUET

Complete shutdown underway at all engineering universities, including BUET

Premier Bank reports first 'no dividend' after listing, losses

Premier Bank reports first 'no dividend' after listing, losses

India could receive 25% tariff reduction 'tomorrow' if it stops buying Russian oil: Senior US official

India could receive 25% tariff reduction 'tomorrow' if it stops buying Russian oil: Senior US official

শিক্ষার্থীদের ওপর লাঠিচার্জের বিচার চাইলেন বুয়েটের ভিসি

শিক্ষার্থীদের ওপর লাঠিচার্জের বিচার চাইলেন বুয়েটের ভিসি

দাবি পূরণ না হওয়াই আন্দোলন চালিয়ে যাবেন প্রকৌশল শিক্ষার্থী

দাবি পূরণ না হওয়াই আন্দোলন চালিয়ে যাবেন প্রকৌশল শিক্ষার্থী

Argentina’s president pelted with stones while campaigning

Argentina’s president pelted with stones while campaigning

Search continues for two boaters missing after canoe capsized on Upper Kananaskis Lake

Search continues for two boaters missing after canoe capsized on Upper Kananaskis Lake

South Korea, US conduct joint maritime infiltration drills

South Korea, US conduct joint maritime infiltration drills

Bangladeshi Protest in Front of the Indian Embassy in Canada

Bangladeshi Protest in Front of the Indian Embassy in Canada

SpaceX's Starship rocket completes 5th test flight, returning booster on land

SpaceX's Starship rocket completes 5th test flight, returning booster on land

ফুরোলো অপেক্ষা, পরিবারের কাছে ফিরলেন নাবিকরা

ফুরোলো অপেক্ষা, পরিবারের কাছে ফিরলেন নাবিকরা

When and where will cyclone 'Dana' hit?

When and where will cyclone 'Dana' hit?

Flight operations from Bangladesh to various destinations in India are disrupted due to lack of passengers

Flight operations from Bangladesh to various destinations in India are disrupted due to lack of passengers

ফুটবল ইতিহাসে সবচেয়ে বেশি ট্রফি এখন মেসির

ফুটবল ইতিহাসে সবচেয়ে বেশি ট্রফি এখন মেসির

প্রার্থীদের বহিষ্কার বিএনপির ভুল সিদ্ধান্ত নাকি কৌশল?

প্রার্থীদের বহিষ্কার বিএনপির ভুল সিদ্ধান্ত নাকি কৌশল?

Gas tanker explosion kills more than 140 people in Nigeria

Gas tanker explosion kills more than 140 people in Nigeria

পাঁচ দশকে ডলারের দাম বেড়েছে ১৫১৬ শতাংশ

পাঁচ দশকে ডলারের দাম বেড়েছে ১৫১৬ শতাংশ

Elon Musk's xAI seeks AI tutors with good offer

Elon Musk's xAI seeks AI tutors with good offer

বদলে যাচ্ছে মহাখালী বাস টার্মিনাল এলাকার চিত্র

বদলে যাচ্ছে মহাখালী বাস টার্মিনাল এলাকার চিত্র

জনপ্রিয়তার তুঙ্গে ‘প্যালেস্টাইন কোলা’

জনপ্রিয়তার তুঙ্গে ‘প্যালেস্টাইন কোলা’

ই-বর্জ্য ব্যবস্থাপনা ব্যবস্থা উন্নত করতে কাজ করছে সরকার: পরিবেশমন্ত্রী

ই-বর্জ্য ব্যবস্থাপনা ব্যবস্থা উন্নত করতে কাজ করছে সরকার: পরিবেশমন্ত্রী

কালশী পুলিশ বক্সে আগুন দিয়েছে অটোরিকশা চালকরা

কালশী পুলিশ বক্সে আগুন দিয়েছে অটোরিকশা চালকরা

এভাবে প্রশ্ন করবেন না, খোঁচাবেন না: কাদের

এভাবে প্রশ্ন করবেন না, খোঁচাবেন না: কাদের

চোটগ্রস্ত তাসকিন কেন সহ-অধিনায়ক, জানালেন লিপু

চোটগ্রস্ত তাসকিন কেন সহ-অধিনায়ক, জানালেন লিপু

“Our family almost became lifeless after my son’s death”: martyr Sajjad’s mother

“Our family almost became lifeless after my son’s death”: martyr Sajjad’s mother

Where can the cyclone 'Dana' run more rampage?

Where can the cyclone 'Dana' run more rampage?

কানাডার হাইকমিশনারের পদত্যাগে স্মারকলিপি

কানাডার হাইকমিশনারের পদত্যাগে স্মারকলিপি

3 people in the world do not need a passport

3 people in the world do not need a passport

Todays All

Office: 1545, Alta Vista Drive, Ottawa, ON K1G 3PG, CANADA
Bangladesh Office : House- 15, Road- 05, Sector- 09, Uttara, Dhaka