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Skype’s Demise Is a Warning: Europe Must Step Up Its Tech Game
It’s difficult to pinpoint exactly what led to Skype’s downfall. Some might blame the rise of WhatsApp and FaceTime, or perhaps the pandemic, which catapulted Zoom, Google Meet, and Microsoft Teams into dominance. Regardless of the cause, Skype is now a relic of a bygone era — a time when a company from Estonia had the audacity to challenge the global telecom giants and disrupt their lucrative international call business.
Microsoft’s recent decision to quietly phase out Skype and redirect its resources toward strengthening Teams is hardly surprising. For years, Skype had already become an inconvenience — one of those outdated applications that required more time updating than actually using. But that wasn’t always the case.
For those of us who have followed the evolution of technology and innovation, Skype once stood as a testament to Europe’s ability to create groundbreaking tech. Founded by Janus Friis, Niklas Zennström, and a team of Estonian developers, Skype was a symbol of European ingenuity, proving that the continent was still capable of challenging the dominance of well-entrenched American industries. Its premise — allowing anyone with an internet connection to make free, high-quality international calls — was revolutionary. At a time when telecom companies were still charging extortionate rates for…
