Key TakeawaysOnce a pioneering video calling app with hundreds of millions of monthly users, Skype is officially being retired by Microsoft.Microsoft is urging users to transition to Microsoft Teams, its very own collaboration platform. To ease the switch, users can migrate their contacts, chats, and call logs seamlessly using Microsofts migration services.Users have until May 5 to export their Skype data before the app shuts down permanently.Skype, an app that was once synonymous with video calling, is officially going to be phased out. This marks an end of what the millennials would consider an era.The video calling app has been around for over 20 years and had a few hundred million people using it every single month at its prime. Whether it was corporate or leisure, Skype was one of the first apps to offer internet video calling. It even disrupted the telephone industry soon after its launch.However, the underlying technology of the app soon became obsolete when competitors like WhatsApp and Zoom introduced more user-friendly and advanced features, and users started switching to alternatives.Skype was bought by Microsoft in 2011 for $8.5 billion, but that didnt quite positively impact its growth either. Being unable to keep up with its growing competitors, Skype saw a gradual decrease in its number of users over the years.On the other hand, Microsoft Teams, introduced in 2017, is a similar app that has seen substantial growth post-COVID and continues to be a leading collaboration tool, especially in the corporate space.While announcing the retirement of Skype, Microsoft urged the users to try out Teams and move their data to the app while theres still time. Users have until May 5 to figure out what they want to do with their existing chats and data on Skype before theyre gone for good.Microsofts Attempt to Move Users from Skype to Microsoft TeamsA highly possible intention behind shutting down Skype is to shift the focus to Microsoft Teams.Microsoft is providing several perks to make the transition smooth. As mentioned earlier, users will be able to export and move data easily from Skype to Teams with Microsofts migration services. You can even use your Skype login credentials for Teams.Moreover, youll be able to preserve everything from your Skypes chat histories to call logs within the Teams environment. Teams, by the way, provides almost all the features that Skype does, except for the option to video call contacts or phone numbers, which was one of the core reasons why Skype gained popularity.Some of the common features between Teams and Skype include one-on-one and group calls, messaging, and file sharing. Teams also has some additional features, like the ability to manage calendars and join communities, that can come in handy for business networking.Users who do not wish to switch to Microsoft Teams can choose to export all their data from Skype.Add Techreport to Your Google News Feed Get the latest updates, trends, and insights delivered straight to your fingertips. Subscribe now! Subscribe now Alpa is a senior editor with a wealth of experience in alternative finance, fintech, cryptocurrency, app security software, and the medical industry. She's currently an in-house managing editor with the Techreport team.Alpa is passionate about breaking down complex topics and sharing informative content that provides value. View all articles by Alpa Somaiya Our editorial processThe Tech Reporteditorial policyis centered on providing helpful, accurate content that offers real value to our readers. We only work with experienced writers who have specific knowledge in the topics they cover, including latest developments in technology, online privacy, cryptocurrencies, software, and more. Our editorial policy ensures that each topic is researched and curated by our in-house editors. We maintain rigorous journalistic standards, and every article is 100% written byreal authors.