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Message: [QUOTE="Nehanda, post: 26645, member: 2262"] Microsoft has decided to close Skype permanently starting in May. The company shared this news through social media, explaining that users can shortly transfer their account information to the free version of Microsoft Teams. This closure arrived fourteen years after Microsoft purchased Skype for $8.5 billion, which at that time represented the largest acquisition the company had ever made. Following the purchase, Microsoft connected Skype with various products, including Office and their Windows Phone platform, which later became unsuccessful. Jeff Teper from Microsoft spoke about how Skype influenced modern communication methods throughout its existence. He expressed appreciation for being part of Skype's history and mentioned excitement about future possibilities through Teams as users shift to different platforms to stay connected. Recent years have seen Skype become less popular despite experiencing increased usage during pandemic lockdowns when other services like Zoom, Google Meet and Cisco Webex gained substantial growth. The service faced significant challenges from competitors such as Apple FaceTime and Meta WhatsApp during the past decade, alongside Microsoft focusing development resources on Teams. Skype began operating from Estonia in 2003 and quickly became popular because it allowed people to make free international calls when traditional phone services charged high rates for similar connections. This feature helped drive rapid adoption among global users seeking affordable communication options. The service changed hands multiple times throughout its existence. Initially, eBay acquired Skype for $2.6 billion back in 2005. The partnership proved unsuccessful, resulting in eBay selling most of its interest - specifically 65 percent - to investor groups for $1.9 billion in 2009 before Microsoft ultimately purchased the entire service two years later. [/QUOTE]

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