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.

Follow THE FUTURE on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, X and Telegram

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.

The Future Forbes Realty Global Properties

A New Twitter-Inspired Social Network Is Taking Shape

by News Editor

August 27, 2026

A new social network called Twitter.now is entering the market, with a founding team that includes former Twitter trademark counsel Stephen Coates. The service is being developed by startup Operation Bluebird.

As Ars Technica reported, X sued the company last year and asked a Delaware judge to block the launch. Operation Bluebird argued in a petition that X had abandoned trademarks including “Twitter” and “Tweet.”

Follow THE FUTURE on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, X and Telegram

Coates has said the project is not an attempt to recreate the original Twitter. In a LinkedIn post, he described the platform as a new public space focused on trust, transparency and user choice.

AI System To Rate Posts

Twitter.now is currently being tested, with early access priced at $20. Its main feature is VERA, an AI system designed to evaluate posts, verify claims and provide sources and context.

Posts receive a trust score, with users eventually able to set a minimum score to filter their feeds. The company says this approach will give people more control over what they see instead of leaving those decisions entirely to an algorithm.

Moderation Remains A Challenge

Scaling moderation will be one of the platform’s biggest tests. Social networks have repeatedly struggled with content moderation as their communities grow, and newer platforms such as Bluesky have faced similar criticism.

Operation Bluebird says VERA will form the basis of its moderation and verification system. A second version is already planned, with expanded tools that would let users set a specific trust threshold for the posts appearing in their feeds.

For now, Twitter.now remains in an early testing phase, combining the familiarity of the Twitter name with an AI-driven approach to evaluating online information.

Breaking news