Farewell Skype: A personal reflection on a communication game-changer
March 4, 2025
For two decades, Skype has been at the heart of how we connect with the world. From family catch-ups to business meetings, it redefined communication and took the dent out of international calling. But in May 2025, Microsoft will retire Skype, pushing users towards Microsoft Teams (free).
I, for one, will miss it.
From long queues to instant calls: A changing world
Working in the Middle East in the 1980s, making an international call was a costly and time-consuming ordeal. You had to drive up to 100 kilometres just to queue at the Central Post Office for a phone booth. Calls were expensive, meaning you kept them brief and to the point—no long chats, just the essentials.
Then came the mobile phone revolution. While groundbreaking, early mobiles were locked to networks, and international calls remained eye-wateringly expensive. The telecom industry held a tight grip, and users had little choice but to accept high roaming charges and steep per-minute rates.
To get around this, people turned to prepaid phone cards, a halfway solution that allowed for slightly cheaper but still limited international calls. These scratch-off cards, often sold at newsagents and kiosks, became a common sight in the 1990s, especially for expats and students trying to stay in touch with home.
Then, in 2003, Skype arrived and changed everything. Suddenly, you didn’t need a landline, a mobile contract, or a prepaid card—you just needed an internet connection. You could talk to anyone, anywhere, for free. It wasn’t just convenient—it was disruptive, breaking the stranglehold of telecom providers and redefining global communication.
A legacy built in Estonia
Skype’s impact goes beyond personal convenience. It helped put Estonia—a small Baltic nation—on the tech map. Created by Estonian engineers Ahti Heinla, Priit Kasesalu, and Jaan Tallinn, alongside Scandinavian entrepreneurs Niklas Zennström and Janus Friis, Skype was the first Estonian unicorn.
Estonia has since cemented itself as a global tech hub, pioneering e-residency, digital governance, and world-class startups like Wise, Bolt, and Pipedrive. Skype was the start of it all—a true tech legacy.
What comes next?
Microsoft’s decision to retire Skype is understandable, but for many of us, Microsoft Teams is not the answer. It’s corporate, cluttered, and lacks the simplicity that made Skype so appealing. So, where do we go from here?
For those searching for alternatives, there are plenty of options:
- Zoom – Ideal for video conferencing, with high-quality calls.
- Google Meet – A seamless choice for Gmail and Calendar users.
- WhatsApp & WhatsApp Business – Good for quick, encrypted calls.
- Signal – The best option for privacy-focused users.
- Discord – Great for community-based chats and voice calls.
- Telegram – A fast, encrypted messaging platform.
- Jitsi Meet – A no-signup, open-source video call solution.
Saying goodbye to a pioneer
For millions, Skype was more than just an app—it was a lifeline. It kept families connected, businesses running, and friendships alive. It made the world feel smaller, and for that, I will always be grateful.
Microsoft Teams may be the future, but I am not a fan. Like many others, I now need to find the next solution.
Farewell, Skype—you changed the world, and you will be missed.
Categories : Around the Industry
