微软Skype，正式停运

Core Viewpoint - Microsoft officially shuts down Skype, marking the end of its 20-year operation history, with core functionalities being migrated to another communication software promoted by Microsoft [1][2]. Group 1: Skype's Historical Context - Skype was initially a free online calling tool, with its name derived from "sky peer to peer," reflecting its VoIP technology [1]. - By 2004, Skype had 11 million registered users, which grew to 54 million by 2005 when eBay announced its acquisition for $2.6 billion [1]. - At the time of acquisition, Skype projected annual revenue of $60 million, primarily from user fees for calls to mobile and landlines [1]. Group 2: Competitive Landscape - The rise of Apple's iMessage and FaceTime, Facebook's acquisition of WhatsApp, and the success of Tencent's WeChat contributed to Skype's decline [2]. - Despite a surge in video call demand during the pandemic benefiting competitors like Zoom and Google Meet, Skype's popularity has waned [2]. - Microsoft has invested heavily in Teams, which offers similar services to Skype, further impacting Skype's user base [2]. Group 3: User Metrics - In 2016, Skype had over 300 million monthly active users, but by 2023, daily active users had decreased to 36 million [2].