It’s hardly a unique story: much-used software is purchased by a larger parent, who then proceeds to slice and dice its technology to enrich its own, then lets the original wallow in obscurity before putting it out of its misery.
So, goodbye Skype.
When you first appeared back in the shiny days of 2003 you were a revelation. Call people for free? Make free video calls to numerous people at the same time? It was witchcraft surely.
We’d only just got used to instant messaging with text, through the likes of Windows Messenger, ICQ and AIM. But now, we could conduct real-time audio/video calls. It was a revelation.
Skype quickly became ubiquitous, a verb for calling someone using internet-based technologies. It didn’t always matter what actual software or technology we were using, we’d “Skype” someone.
As well as revolutionising contact between long-distance friends and relatives, Skype also created a new form of business meeting: remote. No longer did you have to drive two hours for a 30 minute meeting; both parties could now jump onto Skype. Saving time and, ultimately, money.
So it was ready-made for covid times then? Nah. Zoom ate its lunch, dinner, breakfast, supper and midnight snack. Microsoft – which had owned Skype since 2011 – prioritised Teams, adding another nail to Skype’s coffin.
And now Microsoft is putting Skype out of its prolonged misery. On May 5 it will be shut down for good. Goodbye old friend, and thanks for the memories.