I use Skype (not often, but I still want it) to call companies in other countries - actual phone calls to landlines around the world. It's great value.
What will I use instead?
What will I use instead?
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Skype Is Finally Shutting Down on May 5
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HobeSoundDarryl
macrumors G5
Besides Teams and Zoom, what's next best alternative for cross-platform (so not FaceTime) and calls to global landlines?
Skype is THE opportunity to reach everyone - everywhere.
- via Skype
- to any phone everywhere.
Do we have that in Teams as well? I guess not. So it really is a loss.
- via Skype
- to any phone everywhere.
Do we have that in Teams as well? I guess not. So it really is a loss.
I use Skype with friends for our weekly group call. Zoom is not a solution for me since I don't have access to it and I gather one must pay to use it? Besides which, a couple of my friends would have great difficulty in connecting via email link due to their VERY limited tech knowledge. FaceTime is not feasible since I need a cross-platform for friends not using Apple products.
you raised a valid point, possible people just like new things, even if they are just repacked old stuff with new names, ux. marketing trends. the question is why MS gave up so easily. was the acquisition even necessary ? could be the worst tech investement ever.
Zoom was incredibly lucky in that they had a product that did exactly what people were suddenly looking for when Covid hit, and they executed very quickly, signing deals with companies that needed videoconferencing solutions immediately. Now, though, they are encountering headwinds because Microsoft is bundling Teams (an inferior product) with Office 365 subscriptions. Because Office 365 has overwhelming dominance in the enterprise space, many companies are dropping their Zoom subscriptions to save money.
Works for me!
Microsoft today announced that it will officially retire Skype on May 5, 2025, concluding its 14-year tenure as the owner of the once-dominant internet calling and messaging service (via Bloomberg).
Microsoft acquired Skype in 2011 for $8.5 billion in what was then its largest-ever acquisition. At its peak, Skype had more than 300 million monthly active users and was synonymous with internet-based voice and video calling. The service steadily declined in relevance in recent years, with its active user base shrinking to approximately 36 million by 2023 as competitors such as Zoom, WhatsApp, and Microsoft's own Teams platform gained traction.
Teams has since grown to 320 million monthly users, far surpassing Skype's remaining user base. The company's decision to discontinue Skype is apparently part of a broader effort to prioritize artificial intelligence features within Teams. Employees currently working on Skype will be reassigned to other projects rather than being laid off.
Skype played a key role in popularizing VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) technology, enabling businesses and individuals to connect around the world with minimal costs. It also served as an early testbed for AI-powered real-time language translation, a feature Microsoft showcased in a widely publicized demonstration in 2014. However, its frequent UI changes, reliability issues, ill-conceived social media-like features, gradual shift toward enterprise, and inability to keep pace with newer competitors, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, ultimately led to its obsolescence.
As Microsoft finalizes the shutdown process, existing Skype users will have until May 5 to migrate their data and contacts to Teams or seek alternative solutions.
Article Link: Skype Is Finally Shutting Down on May 5
I'd be also interested in an alternative suggestion.
Big Tech should not be allowed to continually buy up and shut down their competitors.
Ah nuts I used it of calling landline around the world for free. Got 60 minutes a month with a office 365 account.
It was good until Microsoft took over, fact.
I used it a lot since my other part was Asian, worked quite well until the above happened.
I used it a lot since my other part was Asian, worked quite well until the above happened.
I use Skype occasionally to make international calls to landlines. Still have $50 credit for it, guess that will be lost.
Already doomed in 2005 when eBay bought it.
Crazy they didn't mention FaceTime in this article on an Apple blog haha. I used to use Skype all the time until FaceTime came out and I literally never used it again.
I rarely do video calls and I want an option, like Skype, where I can make international calls with a drop down to prompt me with the international country code. Something cheap, reliable, easy to use and without a lot of bloated functionality that I don't need. I want to be able to call any number, not just users of that app. Is there another good option?
Total bummer that they killed Skype.
Total bummer that they killed Skype.
Skype reminds me to use it once in a while (every 3-6 month somewhere) to keep my pot alive.
Hardly payed anything for it. The pot has grown of itself, I think after loaded it for quite some time ago.
Hope they return the money that’s saved in the pot, somehow, but doubt it 😆
Hardly payed anything for it. The pot has grown of itself, I think after loaded it for quite some time ago.
Hope they return the money that’s saved in the pot, somehow, but doubt it 😆
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Google Voice is another possible alternative, though I don’t know how good it is.
