Microsoft has taken an important step that will change user habits on the Skype platform. Users will no longer be able to benefit from services by purchasing credits. Instead, they have to be directed towards regional and global subscription packages. At the same time, the ability for users to have private phone numbers via Skype has been completely removed. This change limits the functionality of the platform and forces some users to seek alternatives.
This change first appeared on the Skype user forums. A moderator explained the situation in response to a question from a user trying to make a credit purchase. The moderator stated that Microsoft has adopted a new strategy and will now focus only on monthly subscription options. Users will be able to continue spending their existing credits, but when they are exhausted, the credit loading option will no longer be available.
In its official statement, Microsoft stated that it made this decision within the framework of strategies reshaped according to user needs and product usage rates. The company made it clear that existing Skype numbers will continue to work, but services such as getting a new number or using a customized phone number will no longer be offered. This step brings a serious change for those using the platform’s premium services.
Skype continues to offer Skype-to-Skype calls for free. Therefore, there is no change for users who only communicate within the platform. However, users who want to make calls to landlines or supported mobile numbers will now only be able to use subscription options. Features such as sending SMS with credit and showing a customized phone number in calls have been completely removed.
This may be a disappointment, especially for users who rely on Skype for international communication. In particular, those who want to make calls with country-specific area codes or those who want to hide their existing phone number may have to evaluate different platforms with this new regulation. Skype has created a niche market for years with these unique services it offers, but the removal of these services requires users to meet their needs with different solutions.
Skype’s falling star and the rise of alternatives
Skype, once considered one of the greatest innovations in communication technology, has lost its former popularity in recent years. While platforms such as Zoom, WhatsApp and FaceTime rose with the impact of the pandemic, Skype remained in the background in this race. Microsoft’s investments in its own product, Teams, caused Skype’s marketing activities to decrease.
The company showed great promise when it bought Skype for $8.5 billion in 2011. However, in recent years, the number of users and strategic importance of the platform have gradually decreased. So much so that Microsoft now avoids even sharing the number of Skype users with the public. In a blog post published last year, it was stated that the platform had 36 million daily users. However, the currentness of these figures is currently unclear.
To summarize, Skype users now need to adapt to a subscription-based system. Users who rely on services such as purchasing credits or customized phone numbers have to make a new cost analysis or turn to alternative platforms with this change. These changes suggest that Microsoft is re-evaluating its priorities on Skype and opting to keep the platform within a more limited framework.
Although this new regulation for users significantly changes the functionality of Skype, it is thought that the transition to the subscription system will show its place in the long-term strategies of the platform over time.