Skype Closes Its Doors After 20 Years: A Look Back and the Apps That Faded with It

After 20 years of transforming global communication, Skype has officially ceased operations. Microsoft, which purchased the platform for $8.5 billion in 2011, announced the closure on Monday, bringing an end to one of the internet’s most recognizable voice and video call services.

The shutdown wasn’t a complete surprise. Earlier this year, Microsoft signaled its intent to phase out Skype, encouraging users to transition to Microsoft Teams, its modern communication hub. Users were given the choice to migrate their Skype accounts to Teams or download their conversation history and data before the service ended.

Since its debut in 2003, Skype revolutionized how people connected worldwide, offering free voice and video calls when such technology was groundbreaking. Its intuitive design, distinctive ringtone, and pioneering video chat capabilities made it a staple in homes and offices by the late 2000s.

However, Skype’s prominence waned as competitors like Zoom, WhatsApp, FaceTime, and Google Meet gained traction. From a peak of 40 million monthly active users in March 2020, its user base shrank to about 36 million by early 2023. Though still operational, Skype had faded from its former cultural and practical significance.

The news of its closure triggered a wave of nostalgia across social media. Users posted fond memories, snippets of the app’s iconic ringtone, and images of its signature blue interface, a hallmark of early online communication. For many, Skype was more than an app—it was a lifeline for staying in touch across continents.

As Skype exits the stage, it joins a roster of cherished apps from the 2000s and 2010s that shaped the digital age but ultimately faded into history.