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It’s official: Skype is saying goodbye. In an announcement published last February 28, Microsoft disclosed that they will retire Skype by end May 2025.
For many – especially for tanders like me – this marks the end of an era. Skype wasn’t just your typical messaging app. It was the first platform that made free video calls a norm.
It was a different world in 2003. The Lord of the Rings: Return of the King dominated the box office, while Finding Nemo made Pixar magic by teaching us that fish are friends, not food. Flip phones were all the rage (no iPhones yet), and social media was just getting off the ground with MySpace (Facebook would launch in 2004). The Iraq war had just begun and we still burned CDs to share music with friends. YouTube hasn’t been invented yet, and “Can you hear me now?” was an actual concern – reception wasn’t reliable nor as pervasive as it is now. This was the world before Skype changed the way we communicated via video calls.
Pre-Skype, talking to loved ones abroad meant expensive international calls, waiting for emails, or if all else fails, snail mail. With the advent of Skype, suddenly, anyone with an internet connection could talk, see each other, and even work together without worrying about phone bills. For a nation with a sizable population working as Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs), Skype became a godsend.
Get Ready for a Game Changer!
Back then, your first use of Skype felt like it was straight out of a movie: you’re sweating in Manila yet talking to someone thousands of miles away without paying ridiculous fees. It was momentous. It was a game changer.
Skype may not be the first messaging platform, but it was the one that catapulted video calling mainstream.
Businesses were quick to realize the advantages. Not only did Skype enable companies to hold meetings with clients and teams from different countries without spending thousands on travel, it also opened doors for the freelance and remote work industries.
The Pinoy Skyper
For Filipinos, Skype was far more than an app – it was a bridge to family and opportunities. For the OFWs working abroad, staying in touch with loved ones back home was suddenly easier. Suddenly, they can see their loved ones and be a part of their families’ daily lives.
Parents who made the sacrifice to be away from their families to earn more could suddenly watch their kids grow up, even from miles away. Couples in long-distance relationships could have dinner dates over video calls. Birthday celebrations, graduations, late-night conversations, and even sleep calls felt more meaningful because of Skype.
The app also added a new element for online work. Long before remote jobs became common, Filipino freelancers were quick to use Skype to connect with international clients. It helped thousands of Filipinos find jobs as virtual assistants, writers, and online teachers – industries that continue to thrive today.
Why the Change?
If Skype was all that, why is Microsoft shutting it down? The unflinching truth is that technology moves fast. While Skype used to be king when it came to video calls, newer platforms with more bells and whistles (Zoom, WhatsApp, etc.) have taken over.
It’s a different world from when Skype was first launched. As technology evolved, so did communication needs. The decision to retire Skype fits with Microsoft’s strategy to focus on Microsoft Teams – their new bet for integrating chat, video meetings, and collaboration tools.
If you’re a Skype user, transitioning to Teams is straightforward. Just log into Teams with your Skype account, and your data – chats, contacts – will automatically appear in the app.
Even as Skype is disappearing, its impact remains. Just imagine what life would have been like in the recent pandemic without video calls – remote work, online school, checking up on your family as you were separated by quarantine – imagine how much lonelier everything could have been without video calls. As we say adieu to Skype, let’s give it the recognition it deserves. Salamat, Skype. Long live the king.
