Did Microsoft Buy Skype Apr 2026

Microsoft began focusing heavily on Microsoft Teams , which offered more robust features for businesses.

On May 5, 2025 , Microsoft officially retired Skype. Users were encouraged to migrate to Microsoft Teams Free , which now serves as the primary communication tool for the Microsoft ecosystem. Summary of Key Milestones 2003 Skype is founded in Estonia. 2005 eBay buys Skype for $2.6 billion. 2011 Microsoft buys Skype for $8.5 billion. 2013 Windows Live Messenger is merged into Skype. 2017 Microsoft Teams launches, eventually overshadowing Skype. 2025 Skype is officially retired on May 5. Moving from Skype to Microsoft Teams Free did microsoft buy skype

Under CEO Steve Ballmer, Microsoft outbid tech giants like Facebook and Google to secure Skype. Microsoft began focusing heavily on Microsoft Teams ,

eBay bought Skype in 2005 for $2.6 billion, hoping to let buyers and sellers talk. The integration failed, and eBay later sold a majority stake to a group of investors led by Silver Lake in 2009. 2. The $8.5 Billion Bet (2011) Summary of Key Milestones 2003 Skype is founded in Estonia

On May 10, 2011, Microsoft announced it would acquire Skype for $8.5 billion in cash—a massive deal that marked Microsoft's biggest acquisition at the time.