After 23 years of service, the popular video calling platform Skype is set to shut down. Microsoft has announced that starting May 5, 2025, Skype will no longer be available. Users will have the option to migrate their data to Microsoft Teams or download and store it separately, according to a report by TechCrunch.
Microsoft has assured that existing Skype users can log into Teams using their Skype ID at no cost, with their chats and contacts automatically transferred. While Skype was designed for small group conversations, Microsoft Teams offers the capability to host video calls with up to 10,000 participants.
For those seeking alternatives to Skype, several options are available, including Google Meet, Zoom, Webex, Discord, Signal, and Slack. The free versions of Google Meet and Zoom allow up to 100 participants but come with time limits. Meanwhile, Discord and Signal are effective choices for smaller groups. Additionally, WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, and Apple FaceTime remain popular for personal and small-scale video calls.
