Hi5, Orkut, MySpace, Geocities... Do these names ring a bell? Do you remember chatting with your friends on MSN Messenger in the late '90s? Text messages, file sharing, status updates, and even playing games with your friends in real time was possible with MSN Messenger. Millions of users started using it in the 2000s.
A few years later, Skype was launched, revolutionizing voice-over-IP services. Niklas Zennstrom, Janus Friis, and a team of developers founded Skype, enabling computer-to-computer calls. Since this was more cost effective than landlines, user adoption was quick. Using Skype to connect with loved ones through video calls felt futuristic at the time.
In 2005, eBay acquired Skype for $2.6 billion, and, in 2009, a consortium that included Silver Lake bought a major stake in Skype.
In 2011, Microsoft acquired Skype for $8.5 billion and integrated Skype into their products. MSN Messenger, which was rebranded as Windows Live Messenger, was phased out in 2013, forcing users to switch to Skype for all their messaging and calling needs.
Around the same time, Microsoft used an enterprise-only platform called Lync as a successor to office communicator, catering to instant messaging and video calls. In 2015, Lync was rebranded as Skype for Business and integrated with Outlook and SharePoint, allowing users to host meetings with up to 250 participants. It became the go-to tool for enterprises for their online meeting needs.
By 2017, three major internal communication apps were launched in the market:
These three rivals catered to the internal communication needs for offices across the globe. Microsoft Teams started building on Skype’s technology for video and voice calls, adding persistent chat, file sharing, and deep integration with Microsoft 365 apps.
By 2021, Skype for Business was phased out, with Microsoft pushing users toward Teams as an all-in-one solution. In February 2025, Microsoft announced Skype’s upcoming retirement in May, encouraging users to migrate to Teams. Meanwhile, Zoho Cliq added many functionalities, cementing their authority in the employee communication space.
With Skype saying goodbye, Teams is ready to embrace its users. But what if Teams isn’t your fit? Migrate to Zoho Cliq for a fresh start! With Zoho Cliq, you can easily set up secure chats, video calls, and workflows in one platform. With assisted migration from Skype, switching to Zoho Cliq has never been easier.
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