In a shocking move, Microsoft has announced the discontinuation of its trailblazing online calling app, Skype, effective from Monday, marking the end of an era after over twenty transformative years.

Originally founded by visionary Scandinavian entrepreneurs Niklas Zennström and Janus Friis in Luxembourg in 2003, Skype revolutionized communication by being the first service to offer free voice and video calls over the Internet. It quickly became the go-to choice for millions, enabling users to connect with loved ones around the globe without the burden of exorbitant phone bills.

Despite its monumental rise, boasting peak usage of hundreds of millions of monthly users, Skype has struggled in recent years as fierce competition emerged from other platforms like Zoom and WhatsApp. In a bid to consolidate its offerings, Microsoft suggests users transition to its Teams app, which is geared towards professional collaboration and has gained significant traction during the pandemic.

With Skype officially going offline starting Tuesday, many users are left reflecting on the platform that forever changed how we communicate. Is this the final curtain call for the iconic service, or could it make a comeback someday?