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Skype revolutionized communication since 2003 but is set to retire as Microsoft shifts to Teams

Skype revolutionized communication since its inception in 2003, becoming a top downloaded app by 2019 before Microsoft announced its retirement in favor of Teams.

Sources:
Time Magazine
Updated 3h ago
The Headline

Skype's legacy and the shift to Teams

Is there a word for the sense of loss you experience when you outlive a technology that changed your life?
Time Magazine
Key Facts
  • Microsoft is retiring Skype in favor of Teams, marking a significant change in its communication strategy.Time Magazine
  • Specialized international calling companies briefly offered alternatives, but Skype revolutionized how people communicate across borders.Time Magazine
Background Context

The rise of Skype: Origins and peak popularity

Ranking of Skype among downloaded apps
10th
Time Magazine
Year Skype was invented
2003
Time Magazine
Year Skype was sold to eBay
2005
Time Magazine
Key Facts
  • Skype was invented in 2003 by billionaire northern Europeans, utilizing the internet rather than phone lines for communication.Time Magazine
  • In 2019, Skype was recognized as one of the top 10 most downloaded apps of the decade, surpassing TikTok, YouTube, and Twitter.Time Magazine
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