On May 5, 2025 , Microsoft officially retired Skype. Users were encouraged to migrate to Microsoft Teams Free , which now serves as the primary communication tool for the Microsoft ecosystem. Summary of Key Milestones 2003 Skype is founded in Estonia. 2005 eBay buys Skype for $2.6 billion. 2011 Microsoft buys Skype for $8.5 billion. 2013 Windows Live Messenger is merged into Skype. 2017 Microsoft Teams launches, eventually overshadowing Skype. 2025 Skype is officially retired on May 5. Moving from Skype to Microsoft Teams Free
Despite having a huge head start, Skype eventually lost ground to newcomers like and WhatsApp . did microsoft buy skype
In 2013, Microsoft officially retired its own Windows Live Messenger (MSN) and moved millions of users over to Skype. 3. The Shift to the Cloud On May 5, 2025 , Microsoft officially retired Skype
The acquisition was more than just a purchase; it was a pivot that reshaped global communication. 5 billion deal, and the eventual sunset of the app that once defined video calling. 1. The Pre-Microsoft Era: A Rocky Start 2005 eBay buys Skype for $2
On May 10, 2011, Microsoft announced it would acquire Skype for $8.5 billion in cash—a massive deal that marked Microsoft's biggest acquisition at the time.
Before Microsoft entered the picture, Skype already had a complicated history of ownership: