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Last call for Skype

AILSA CHANG, HOST:

Today, we are saying goodbye to a technology that produced one of the 2000s' most memorable ringtones.

(SOUNDBITE OF SKYPE RINGTONE)

CHANG: Skype - it shut down today.

ARI SHAPIRO, HOST:

It used to be super popular. In 2009, the app had more than 400 million users and made up 8% of the world's international calling minutes.

CHANG: Skype allowed you to call others over the internet but also to call anyone with a phone number. That was revolutionary back in the mid-2000s, but don't just take my word for it. Here's former ALL THINGS CONSIDERED host Robert Siegel in August 2005.

(SOUNDBITE OF ARCHIVED NPR BROADCAST)

ROBERT SIEGEL: It was a delightful experience to - making a call on Skype, wearing headphones, at least to the ears of a radio person. The line is very high quality. It's much better fidelity than an ordinary phone call.

SHAPIRO: Microsoft bought Skype in 2011 for $8.5 billion. Over time, Skype became less popular as other platforms like Zoom caught on. And now Microsoft says it has shifted focus to its Teams app.

(SOUNDBITE OF PLAYSONGS PEOPLE SONG, "SKYPE PEEKABOO")

CHANG: I guess you could say connection lost, but this time, permanently.

(SOUNDBITE OF PLAYSONGS PEOPLE SONG, "SKYPE PEEKABOO") Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR.

NPR transcripts are created on a rush deadline by an NPR contractor. This text may not be in its final form and may be updated or revised in the future. Accuracy and availability may vary. The authoritative record of NPR’s programming is the audio record.

Justine Kenin
Justine Kenin is an editor on All Things Considered. She joined NPR in 1999 as an intern. Nothing makes her happier than getting a book in the right reader's hands – most especially her own.

The independent journalism and non-commercial programming you rely on every day is in danger.

If you’re reading this, you believe in trusted journalism and in learning without paywalls. You value access to educational content kids love and enriching cultural programming.

Now all of that is at risk.

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Together, we can defend it. It’s time to protect what matters.

Your voice has protected public media before. Now, it’s needed again. Learn how you can protect the news and programming you depend on.

SOMOS CONNECTICUT is an initiative from Connecticut Public, the state’s local NPR and PBS station, to elevate Latino stories and expand programming that uplifts and informs our Latino communities. Visit CTPublic.org/latino for more stories and resources. For updates, sign up for the SOMOS CONNECTICUT newsletter at ctpublic.org/newsletters.

SOMOS CONNECTICUT es una iniciativa de Connecticut Public, la emisora local de NPR y PBS del estado, que busca elevar nuestras historias latinas y expandir programación que alza y informa nuestras comunidades latinas locales. Visita CTPublic.org/latino para más reportajes y recursos. Para noticias, suscríbase a nuestro boletín informativo en ctpublic.org/newsletters.

The independent journalism and non-commercial programming you rely on every day is in danger.

If you’re reading this, you believe in trusted journalism and in learning without paywalls. You value access to educational content kids love and enriching cultural programming.

Now all of that is at risk.

Federal funding for public media is under threat and if it goes, the impact to our communities will be devastating.

Together, we can defend it. It’s time to protect what matters.

Your voice has protected public media before. Now, it’s needed again. Learn how you can protect the news and programming you depend on.