Microsoft shutting down Skype

 

 

Microsoft has planned to shut down the SKYPE on 5th May 2025, which is the last day. RIP SKYPE one of the most popular and easy-to-use video calling software of its times. Skype connected people for the past 23 years around the world.

History

Skype was developed in 2003 by Janus Friis from Denmark and Niklas Zennström from Sweden, with its headquarters established in Luxembourg. The software was initially created by Estonian engineers Ahti Heinla, Priit Kasesalu, and Jaan Tallinn, who, along with Friis and Zennström, had also contributed to developing the peer-to-peer file-sharing platform Kazaa.

The domain names Skype.com and Skype.net were registered in April 2003, and by August, the first public beta version was released. Initially called "Sky peer-to-peer," the project was later shortened to "Skyper." However, since related domain names were already taken, the final "r" was dropped, resulting in the name "Skype."In 2005, eBay acquired Skype for $2.6 billion. It was later sold to Silver Lake Partners, a private equity firm, in 2009. Microsoft acquired Skype for USD 8.5 billion in 2011

Microsoft Acquired Skype

In 2011, the primary reason for acquiring Skype was to compete with rivals. Google was offering Google Voice and Hangouts, and Apple has Time, Microsoft needed a robust communication platform to stay competitive, other factors that influenced the decision were:

Enhancing Communication Services – Microsoft aimed to bolster its presence in voice and video communication by integrating Skype with its products like Windows, Office, and Xbox.

Enterprise Solutions – Skype’s integration with Microsoft Teams and Office 365 would improve business communication tools for enterprise customers.

Expanding User Reach – At the time, Skype had approximately 300 million users, providing Microsoft with access to a large and established network.

Cloud and AI Alignment – Skype’s voice and video infrastructure complemented Microsoft’s Azure cloud services and advancements in artificial intelligence.

Though Microsoft acquired Skype it wasn’t a smooth sail in the beginning. They were facing a challenge in monetising Skype. There were new and faster communication tools were launched. On the technological front Microsoft faces quite a challenge to transfer Peer-to-Peer communication to Cloud-based architecture. However, Microsoft overcame these challenges in the due course of time and eventually moved in the right direction with Skype technology.

In the long run, this acquisition proved to be worthwhile: Microsoft integrated Skype’s technology into Teams, which became a huge success during the remote work boom. Skype’s core technology helped enhance AI-driven voice and video features in Microsoft’s ecosystem. Eventually, Skype itself declined, and Microsoft leveraged its acquisition to become a major player in enterprise communication.

Microsoft was able to compete with the competitors and become a dominant player in enterprise communication, not with Skype but with MS Teams. Microsoft pivoted from Skype to Teams, launching it in 2017 as an enterprise collaboration tool. By 2020, Teams had over 250 million monthly active users, surpassing Slack and competing directly with Google Meet and Zoom in the business world. MS Teams did the deep integration with Office 365, One Drive, and Outlook giving Microsoft an edge over Google Workspace.

Here are the best Skype alternatives:

Google Meet

A key advantage of using Google Meet is its availability for free with a Google account. Since many people already use Google and have existing accounts, switching to this platform is relatively seamless. Google Meet enables users to host meetings with up to 100 participants, record sessions, share screens, and more. However, a limitation of the free plan is that meetings with more than three participants are restricted to 60 minutes. For larger organizations, upgrading to a Google Workspace plan may be beneficial. Paid plans offer features such as support for up to 25 co-hosts, breakout rooms for dividing participants into smaller groups, polling, Q&A sessions, live streaming to YouTube, and more. Google Workspace—with pricing tiers starting at $7/month, $14/month, $22/month, and higher—also includes AI-powered tools through its Gemini assistant, which helps Meet users take notes and generate custom background images.

Zoom

Zoom is a widely used web-conferencing platform that offers a range of useful features, such as hosting 100 participants, enabling private and group chat, and taking notes, providing equipment such as a virtual whiteboard and screen sharing. Users can also record meetings and access tapes for reviews. A limit, however, is a restriction of 40 minutes for meetings on the free plan. To avoid interruptions, users can opt for a payment subscription, priced to prices USD 13 to USD 18 per month. Subscribers gain access to Zoom's AI partner, which provides facilities such as the meeting summary and the ability to ask questions about tape.

WebEx

WebEx, a video conferencing tool owned by Cisco, provides a plan similar to that of its rivals. For example, it has features such as screen sharing, recording ability, a whiteboard capacity and more. The free plan includes an unfortunate 40-minute time limit along with 100 attendees per meeting. The WebEx also offers a plan of $ 12/month, $ 22/month and above, depending on the size of the team. Paid Tier comes with an AI Assistant, and Live Polling facility.

Discord

Originally designed as a chat platform for gamers, Discord has evolved to also serve as a versatile tool for personal use or small teams. However, it may not be the best fit for large businesses, as it limits group calls to 25 participants. On the plus side, Discord offers a range of useful features, including unlimited meeting durations, screen sharing, call recording, and breakout rooms. The platform provides a free plan, along with two paid options priced at USD 5/monthand10/month, making it one of the more affordable solutions available, depending on user needs.

Slack

Slack is good for informal team chats, but may not be ideal for formally scheduled meetings with large groups. The Huddle feature helps users quickly move from chat to informal audio-video calls. On the free plan, Huddles can accommodate only two people, whereas paid plans (priced at $7/month or $12/month) allow for up to 50.

Signal

Signal, the encrypted messaging app, introduced group video-calling functionality in 2020, supporting up to 50 participants in a single call. While it isn’t a direct competitor to Skype, it offers a convenient feature for sharing call links, allowing users to invite others without the need to manually create a similar to platforms like Google Meet, Zoom, and Microsoft Teams. A standout advantage is that Signal is completely free to use. For mobile users seeking video-calling solutions for smaller groups, other popular options include WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, and Apple FaceTime.

 Conclusion

Microsoft's phasing out of Skype signifies the end of an era for the pioneering communication tool. While Skype severed and paved the way for modern video calling, its limitations and the rise of more advanced platforms have led to its gradual decline. Microsoft Teams now stands as the company's primary focus, offering a more comprehensive solution for both personal and professional communication needs.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

How AI is Revolutionizing the Trucking Industry

Trucking is a predominant part of the Logistics industry. It is the lifeline for transporting goods within the national geographies and neighbouring countries. It has been an essential industry for delivering goods since historical times and fulfils the market needs of supplies to sell goods. As the economies are growing channels are being created to connect countries through corridors for supplies and smooth trade and the trucking industry is going to play a crucial part in managing the supplies. 

With all the technological enhancements happening in every domain such as healthcare, e-commerce, etc. trucking industry is no exception. The trucking industry is adapting AI and ML rapidly and transforming itself. 

AI-based software and mobile applications are helping in tracking the vehicle through AI-based telematics - Telematics is a technology for monitoring vehicles with the help of GPS (global positioning system) devices. Telematics technology is increasingly using AI to enhance data analysis, automation, and decision-making in fleet management and vehicle tracking. Traditional telematics systems collect data from GPS, onboard sensors, and engine diagnostics, but AI improves how this data is analyzed and used. Telematics has increasingly helped industry players find better approaches towards efficiency in operations.

Let’s see how AI is transforming the trucking industry.

Predictive maintenance for fleet efficiency 

Earlier Fleet management software was limited to the operational efficiency of the fleet but AI-powered FMS( Fleet Management Software) now manages the operations along with vehicle maintenance schedules. The schedules can be streamlined with predictive analysis that is derived from the large data collected by sensors and data analytics to continuously monitor important metrics including tyre condition, tyre pressure, engine performance, fluid levels and other wear and tear.

Predictive analysis helps companies by forecasting possible problems with the vehicles in advance and that helps in avoidance of serious problems and mishaps. AI-powered Fleet Management software saves a lot of lives avoids downtime and significantly reduces the costs and longevity of the vehicle. 

Route Optimization

AI-powered route planning algorithms optimize truck routes by analyzing real-time weather, traffic conditions, and other factors. By evaluating both historical and live data, these algorithms identify the most efficient routes, reducing travel time and fuel consumption. These smart-systems adapt to changing conditions, providing drivers with real-time updates and alternative routes to avoid traffic congestion or road closures. Beyond improving efficiency, intelligent route optimization ensures timely deliveries, enhancing customer satisfaction.

Load Matching & Dispatch Optimization

AI-powered software is transforming the trucking industry by making logistics smoother and more efficient. These smart-systems connect available trucks with the right loads based on location, cargo type, and delivery deadlines, ensuring fleets operate at their best. One of the most advanced innovations in this space is AI-driven smart load matching.

Leveraging smart technology process data and tools helps carriers and brokers find the perfect freight match, which helps trucking companies prioritize shipment, optimise routes, and improve delivery times. These smart technologies help companies save costs. With use of the real-time data, companies can make smart decisions and predict future trends too. 

For trucking companies, this has come as a boon that has enabled them to work efficiently. They are now able to effectively utilize the vehicle selection and space for the load and able to manage shipments with ease and on time. Shortly the load-matching technology will be further clubbed with automated bidding and forecasting in the transportation industry. 

Monitoring

Monitoring is one of the key aspects of the transportation system. Here GPS technology has revolutionized the logistics industry by tracking the vehicle on the road. AI-enabled software has helped in not only giving info regarding route optimization, but they are also analyzing the possible time of the delivery, about drivers' health and stress and fatigue levels, this is helping companies to assign proper workload among the drivers. In-cabin cameras monitor the vitals of the driver and collect the data that is further analyzed. AI tracks driving habits, speed changes, and fuel usage to offer smart tips for better fuel efficiency. This helps trucking companies save money and lower their carbon footprint.

Administrative Tasks Automation

AI takes the hassle out of billing, compliance reporting, and data entry, cutting down paperwork and making trucking operations smoother. With faster processing and fewer mistakes, it keeps everything running efficiently. AI-powered freight documentation takes the burden off fleet managers by handling shipment tracking, invoicing, and compliance paperwork automatically. This means fewer manual errors, faster billing, and more time to focus on big-picture strategies.

The benefits are huge. According to freight forwarders without automation companies are missing out on approx 70% in labor savings. Plus, AI-driven document processing improves service quality and speeds up deliveries. 

Pricing advantages

Logistic companies are taking advantage of AI in dynamic pricing and they are doing so by evaluating demand changes, and market conditions and studying the past data and trends to assess the pricing. This helps carriers to be competitive. It is also helping companies in a reduction in delivery time by 30% which helps increase profitability.

Future of the trucking industry

AI and data-driven technologies are dynamically changing in the trucking industry and future trends are already here. One of the biggest changes is self-driving trucks (autonomous trucks) these trucks consist of self-driving technology and manual intervention, which helps drivers to have less fatigue and they can work more efficiently, it also adds to lowering the labour cost.  AI will be helping companies by providing real-time traffic conditions, weather disruptions fuel costs and supply chain changes enabling companies to make smart decisions and optimizing the travel time.  

According to data published by Precedence Research The global logistics automation market size is calculated at USD 82.80 billion in 2025 and is forecasted to reach around USD 238.99 billion by 2034, with a CAGR of 12.52% from 2025 to 2034. 

Predicted global logistic automation market size rising steadily

And out of this global share U.S. Logistics Automation Market Size and Growth from 2025 To 2034The U.S. logistics automation market size reached USD 21.81 billion in 2024 and is anticipated to be worth around USD 74.54 billion by 2034, poised to grow at a CAGR of 13.08% from 2025 to 2034.

Predicted USA logistic automation market size rising steadily

Asia-Pacific region will grow at the highest CAGR of around 14.2% from 2025 to 2034. The reason for this growth is as there is an increase in manufacturing industries in the region there shall be a demand in logistic industries for automation. Due to the rise in industries in the Asia region, the future of logistics companies going to have strong demand and there will be a need for automation in logistics companies to achieve efficiency and cost savings with better delivery mechanisms. Another important factor will be the cost of labour as the region is labour intensive and the cost of labour is high.  

Another vital factor is a rise in e-commerce in the Asia region that will push companies to adopt automation to meet the pace of demand. 

Here is the list of some of the automation companies.

GreyOrange (US)

HighJump (Korber) (US)

Honeywell Intelligrated (US)

Jungheinrich (Germany)

Knapp (Austria)

Locus Robotics (US)

Manhattan Associates (US)

Seegrid (US)

SSI Schaefer (Germany)

Swisslog (Switzerland)

System Logistics (Italy)

TGW Logistics Group (Austria)

Zebra Technologies (US). 

Murata Machinery (Japan)

Oracle (US)

SAP (Germany)

SBS Toshiba Logistics (Japan)

Conclusion: 

The future of the trucking industry is going to be revolutionized by the technologies and we will see newer versions with better control and features of the existing technologies. For the companies to perform in the market they have to adapt the technologies quickly to work efficiently.