PLATFORMS
Goodbye My Friend Skype, launched in August 2003, was created and developed by Niklas Zennström from Sweden and Janus Friis from Denmark and four Estonian developers and engineers. The platform quickly gained popularity for its ability to provide free voice and video calls over the internet, and it passed through various owners, including eBay, until it was bought by Microsoft in 2011. In February, Microsoft announced Skype’s shutdown will occur on 5 May 2025.
Arrivederci, Auf Wedersein, Adieu!* *Other languages apply. The news broke in February, and like with all death announcements or relationship break-ups, there is a period of reflection, remembering the good times and then ultimately trying to piece together what happened, where did it all go wrong for Skype, and could its demise have been prevented? What can we learn from the platform, one of the first widely available video calling options on Android, who lasted just short of 22 years, in the digital era? Stay Relevant Skype failed to evolve, despite its decade lead over some of its competitors, including home-grown MS Teams. One reason is lack of mobile optimisation – Skype was built for desktops, while competitor Zoom prioritised mobile integration. Zoom’s success has been achieved by taking a customer-focused approach – listening to customer feedback and keeping the
interface optimised for user experiences. Skype increasingly suffered from clunky updates, long load times and an interface that many users found frustrating. Missed Opportunities When the Covid-19 pandemic created an unprecedented demand for online meetings, Skype failed to capitalise on the opportunity, while Zoom dominated the space. Microsoft’s focus shifted fully to Teams, and Skype became an afterthought. Bat off Rivals for Affection Newer platforms, such as Webex and Google Meet, emerged with simpler, more reliable user experiences. Focus within Microsoft shifted to Teams as a more comprehensive collaboration tool, integrating messaging, file sharing, and video conferencing – features that ultimately overshadowed Skype. Who are the rivals? Globally, in 2024, Statista has them pegged at:
Market share of videoconferencing software worldwide in 2024, by program
60%
55.91%
50%
40%
32.29%
30%
20%
Graphics: Statista Video Conferencing Market Share 2024
8.81%
7.61%
10%
5.52%
5.31%
2.16% 1.41%
0.75% 0.31%
0%
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