Microsoft To Shut Down SKYPE In May, International Travelers Need To Find Alternatives

One of the most useful tools for frequent travelers, Skype, has just received its death notice from Microsoft that the service will be shut down in May 2025, which is going to affect many international road warriors.

Just a few months ago I covered how it’s no longer possible for Skype users to charge the account with a $ value (Skype Credit); instead, you must now buy a subscription for each country on a monthly basis if you want to call regular numbers.

This basically rendered the tool useless for anything other than calling 1-800 numbers of various companies, and it really forces me to look for an alternative now, which is rather annoying.

I have been using Skype since it was started, and I remember sitting on the computer for hours, calling BMI Diamond Club and U.S. Airways Dividend Miles to set up reservations.

While it would still be possible to call a big airline in the U.S. (since they all use 1-800/1-888 numbers) you can’t call any other number anymore that would incur charges unless you have a subscription for that country/region if all your Skype credit has been used up.

There were some interesting reader comments on that article, how to circumvent the subscription requirement by buying gift cards online, and also alternate services:

Skype Ends Placing Calls With Online Credit & Switches To Country Specific, Monthly Subscriptions

But little did I expect this to be only a temporary problem. Microsoft will shut down the service in May of this year, leaving us only 2 months before two decades of service come to an end.

Microsoft announced it on their website and explains how calling services will be moved to TEAMS:

The way we communicate has evolved significantly over the years. From instant messaging to video calls, technology has continuously transformed how we connect with each other.

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.

With Teams, users have access to many of the same core features they use in 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.

Hundreds of millions of people already use Teams as their hub for teamwork, helping them stay connected and engaged at work, school, and at home. In the past two years, the number of minutes spent in meetings by consumer users of Teams has grown 4X, reflecting the value Teams brings to everyday communication and collaboration.

As we take this next step with Teams, we’re excited about the opportunities ahead. We look forward to continuing to support people’s everyday connections, starting by making it easy to log into Teams with their Skype account. …

Changes to Skype paid offerings

Moving forward, we will no longer offer paid Skype features to new customers, including Skype Credit and subscriptions that allow you to make and receive international and domestic calls. Current Skype subscription users can continue to use their Skype Credits and subscriptions until the end of their next renewal period. Skype Credit users can also continue to use their remaining Skype Credit. After May 5, 2025, the Skype Dial Pad will be available to remaining paid users from the Skype web portal and within Teams.

Thank you for being part of Skype

Skype has been an integral part of shaping modern communications and supporting countless meaningful moments, and we are honored to have been part of the journey.

We also understand that change can be challenging and want you to know that we’re here to support you every step of the way. We’re excited about the new opportunities that Teams brings and are committed to helping you stay connected in new and meaningful ways.

Over a decade ago in 2015 after Microsoft bought it for $8.5B in, but recently Skype was somehow more and more integrated into the Microsoft 365 Ecosystem without the user really noticing it at first. Not it seems that the standalone app will be gone.

Starting in May 2025, Skype will no longer be available. Over the coming days you can sign in to Microsoft Teams Free with your Skype account to stay connected with all your chats and contacts. Thank you for being part of Skype pic.twitter.com/EZ2wJLOQ1a

— Skype (@Skype) February 28, 2025

If you’re a frequent traveler who has used Skype while on the road internationally, you might be caught off guard by this and Microsoft’s recent changes to subscription-based services.

I will probably use more international SIM and roaming services in the future. Considering how often I have to call 1-800 numbers I really have to find a solution for this.

Conclusion

To say that the developments around Skype were annoying in 2024 is an understatement, and I guess I only have myself to blame for sticking around this long. But it was very convenient – until it wasn’t and now they’re turning off the faucet altogether on May 2.

I guess this is finally the point where I have to look for other alternatives, such as Google Voice, which I’ve already been using for receiving voicemails and SMS/OTP messages for quite a while. I wish more companies and hotels would go messenger-based, such as Finnair and Virgin Atlantic. I also ask hotels proactively if they have a messenger service and save it in my contacts. This is very common nowadays, especially here in Asia.

If you have any suggestions on what service other than Google Voice to use, please drop a comment below.

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