Change is the only constant in this volatile tech-enabled world. From writing letters to sending emails, from landline phones to mobile phones, technology has made our communication faster. There has been significant evolution over the years in the way we communicate. From instant messaging to video calls, technology has continuously transformed how we connect. However, tech-giants like Microsoft which have been at the forefront in revolutionising communication, have discontinued its once popular video call app Skype.

They announced shutting down Skype after 21 years of service. The popular video conferencing tool will be officially retired in 2025, making way for its successor, Microsoft Teams.

“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,” said Microsoft.

Skype was launched in 2003 when Niklas Zennström, Janus Friis, and a team of Estonian developers launched a groundbreaking peer-to-peer (P2P) communication platform. Initially, it was named ‘Sky peer-to-peer’ before being shortened to Skype.

Though Skype is not the only popular app that has been shut down by Microsoft. Several once-popular digital platforms have been discontinued over the years due to changing user behavior, competitive pressure, or shifting business priorities. Here is the list of other popular platforms that have been closed in the past:

Orkut

Once a popular social networking platform for staying connected with friends, family, and developing friendships with new people. It grew to a community of over 300 million people. However, Google-owned Orkut was officially shut down on September 30, 2014. Google shut it down due to declining usage, and the rise of Meta-owned social media platform Facebook started gaining popularity since its launch in 2006. It is a must to mention here that Orkut was my first tryst with a social media platform. Millennials like me must have a nostalgic feeling about Orkut. 

Skype for Business

Virtual calls on instant messaging platforms have become common these days. Everyone is well aware of the usage of virtual calls. Years before COVID, when meetings were mostly in-person, Skype for Business was among the few other platforms where people used to connect with global teams working in various geographies.

A corporate communication tool with instant messaging, voice, and video calling, it got officially discontinued in 2021 and was replaced by Microsoft Teams. Microsoft integrated its features into Teams, which offered a more modern, collaboration-focused experience.

Google Hangout

Google Hangouts, introduced in 2013, was shut down after close to a decade of service in 2022. It was launched as a successor to GChat, or Google Talk.  It was a chat and video calling platform for consumers and businesses. It was replaced by Google Chat and Google Meet as part of Google Workspace rebranding.

Windows Live Messenger (MSN Messenger)

Microsoft discontinued Windows Live Messenger (MSN Messenger), an instant messaging platform, in March 2013 to push the use of Skype as the primary communication platform. It was a popular instant messaging (IM) client developed by Microsoft. It was a cross-platform application that connected to Microsoft's Messenger service, and later became compatible with Yahoo! Messenger and Facebook Messenger. 

Yahoo Messenger

Launched as Yahoo Pager in 1998 and rebranded as Yahoo Messenger in 1999. It was used to send text and voice messages. The application was also used for video calls. It was equipped with chat rooms, a popular feature, especially in the early days of the internet.  It was discontinued in July 2018 after faster, mobile-first apps like WhatsApp and Facebook Messenger became popular. It was one of the earliest widely used instant messaging platforms.

As technology continues to evolve, new platforms rise while old favorites fade. But, for many of us, apps like Orkut, MSN, and Yahoo Messenger will always hold a special place in our digital memories.