Farewell, Skype: Microsoft Calls Time on the Iconic App

by News Editor

May 5, 2025

Everything good comes to an end. As of May 5, Microsoft has ended support for Skype, nearly 15 years after acquiring the European VoIP provider from eBay for $8.5 billion.

Key Facts

Jeff Teper, President of Collaborative Apps and Platforms at Microsoft, announced the decision to cease the service, aiming to optimize user communication products.
Once a pioneering platform for HD voice and video calls, Skype was an early leader in online communication.
Skype, initially developed by Skype Technologies, was acquired by eBay in 2005.
Despite surpassing 400 million users in 2008, Skype began losing its competitive edge.
In 2011, Microsoft acquired Skype for $8.5 billion, paving the way for the app’s current scenario.
Ending support for Skype has sparked nostalgia among its extensive user base.

What You Should Know and Microsoft’s Reason

Skype was once a premier VoIP service for global connections, allowing both free and paid communication. As Microsoft shifts focus to Microsoft Teams, Skype’s user experience and features will be incorporated into this modern hub.

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Microsoft Teams, which has seen significant user growth, will now carry forward Skype’s legacy features, offering enhanced capabilities.

What Happens to Your Skype Account?

All Skype contacts and chats will seamlessly migrate to the free version of Microsoft Teams. Active subscriptions and credits remain usable through Skype Dial Pad, accessible via the web or Teams.

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EBA Finds Gaps In Bank Recovery Dry Run Practices

by THEFUTURE.TEAM

April 15, 2026

Overview Of The European Banking Authority Findings

The European Banking Authority (EBA) published a report examining how banks conduct dry runs to test recovery plans. The analysis focuses on how institutions prepare for stress scenarios and assess their ability to implement recovery measures. Dry runs serve as practical tests of operational readiness under adverse conditions.

Varied Approaches And Institutional Maturity

Findings show clear differences in how banks design and execute these exercises. Approaches vary in scope, methodology, and depth of implementation. Institutions that treat dry runs mainly as compliance exercises tend to gain limited practical value. In such cases, testing does not translate into improvements in recovery planning.

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Integrating Dry Runs Into Broader Risk Management

More advanced institutions integrate dry runs into broader risk management processes. These exercises are used to test internal coordination, decision-making, and operational response. Such integration improves the feasibility of recovery plans and supports faster execution during stress events.

Regulatory Evolution And Future Implications

The EBA highlights the need for consistent and high-quality testing of recovery frameworks. Updates to testing approaches are required as risk conditions evolve. Closer alignment between recovery and resolution planning is also identified as an area for further development.

Moving Forward With Strategic Preparedness

According to EBA, the benchmarking exercise is intended to guide improvements rather than impose requirements. The report provides reference points for strengthening testing practices across institutions. Additional guidance, including the EBA handbook on simulation exercises, supports further development of recovery and resolution planning.

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