Microsoft is doing away with its once-popular video conference application Skype, the company announced Friday.
“In order to streamline our free consumer communications offerings so we can more easily adapt to customer needs, we will be retiring Skype in May 2025 to focus on Microsoft Teams (free), our modern communications and collaboration hub,” said Jeff Teper, President, Collaborative Apps and Platforms, in a blog post on Microsoft’s website.
Teper noted that with Teams, users have access to many of the same features as Skype, such as one-on-one calls and group calls, messaging and file sharing.
“Additionally, Teams offers enhanced features like hosting meetings, managing calendars, and building and joining communities for free,” Teper said in the blog post.
Microsoft said that during this transition period, users will have the choice to either move to Microsoft Teams for free, or export their data from Skype.
Need a break? Play the USA TODAY Daily Crossword Puzzle.
“Skype will remain available until May 5, 2025, giving users time to explore Teams and decide on the option that works best for them,” Microsoft said in the blog post.
More tech news:iPhone 16e available for purchase today: Price, key features, what to know
What are some alternatives to Skype?
In addition to Microsoft Teams, there are a few other options for users looking for an alternative to Skype.
WhatsApp is a popular app owned by Meta, the same company that owns Facebook and Instagram. The app offers a lot of the same features as Skype, including text messaging, voice and video calls, and group chats.
Zoom is another popular alternative that many folks became familiar with during the COVID-19 pandemic. The app is best known for its video meeting function.
Google also offers a video conferencing tool called Meet, which replaced Google Hangouts. Anyone with a Google account can use Meet.
And, FaceTime, which is available to Apple users across iPhone, iPad, and Mac devices.
This story has been updated to add new information.
Gabe Hauari is a national trending news reporter at USA TODAY. You can follow him on X @GabeHauari or email him at [email protected].
