Once synonymous with video calling, Skype has seen its popularity wane as alternatives like WhatsApp and Zoom have surged ahead, rendering it less relevant in a fast-evolving digital environment.
Effective May 5, users will need to either export their data or transition to Microsoft Teams, which offers comparable chat and calling features, albeit lacking the facility to call traditional phone numbers, a hallmark of Skype’s early success.
Founded in 2003, Skype initially revolutionized communication and attracted hundreds of millions of users at its peak. However, it struggled to adapt to the smartphone era, leading to its decline.
Users will be able to access Teams for free, seamlessly migrating their chats and contacts. With this closure, Skype joins other Microsoft ventures, such as Internet Explorer, that failed to navigate changing market demands effectively.
Microsoft has not disclosed current user numbers for Skype, which have plummeted from 150 million at its acquisition in 2011 to around 23 million by 2020, despite a brief pandemic resurgence.
Vocabulary List:
- Winding down /ˈwaɪndɪŋ daʊn/ (verb phrase): The process of gradually reducing or terminating activity.
- Dominated /ˈdɒməˌneɪtɪd/ (verb): To have control or influence over something or someone.
- Comparable /kəmˈpærəbl/ (adjective): Similar in some way; capable of being compared.
- Relevance /ˈrɛl.ə.vəns/ (noun): The quality of being closely connected or appropriate.
- Navigation /ˌnævɪˈɡeɪʃən/ (noun): The act of planning and directing the route or course of something.
- Resurgence /rɪˈsɜːrdʒəns/ (noun): An increase or revival after a period of little activity.
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