After Skype code hinted at the service's possible shutdown in May, Microsoft has officially confirmed it. Users of the platform are being encouraged to switch to Teams for free, where all their message history, group chats, and contacts will automatically be transferred. There will also be no need to create a new account, The Verge reports.
"Skype users will be in control, they’ll have the choice. They can migrate their conversation history and their contacts out and move on if they want, or they can migrate to Teams," said Jeff Teper, president of Microsoft 365 collaboration apps and platforms.
Skype will continue to work until May 5, so users will have two more months to decide whether they want to transfer their data to Teams or switch to other services. If the choice falls on the first option, then in addition to history and contacts, all photos will also appear in Teams. In the case of the second option, the company makes it possible to easily view all your data.
However, one Skype feature will disappear completely after the service is shut down – the ability to make calls to domestic and international numbers. Microsoft’s vice president of products, Amit Fulay, explains that this feature was relevant when voice over IP was not available and mobile tariffs remained expensive. The company does not plan to develop this area in the future, Fulay notes.
Existing Skype credits will continue to be available for use, including in Microsoft Teams. However, subscriptions and paid features will no longer be available for new users. Skype users who have numbers will need to port them to other providers. Teams users will also not have access to the calling feature available to business users.