Skype is shutting down – EASY

March 3, 2025
Business, Easy level, Technology
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Listen to the story (American accent)

Skype will shut down on May 5th. Skype is about 20 years old.

With Skype, people can call and see each other on the computer or smartphone. 20 years ago, international telephone calls were expensive, but Skype was free.

Skype is from Estonia. Microsoft bought Skype for $8.5 billion in 2011.

In May, people can’t use Skype anymore. Microsoft says to use Teams. Teams is another Microsoft program.

In 2011, 150 million people used Skype. In 2020, only 23 million people used Skype. Other apps like FaceTime and WhatsApp are like Skype. Many people use them.

Microsoft Teams is popular now. 320 million people use it. It became popular during the COVID-19 pandemic. Many businesses use it, too.

Vocabulary

  • Shut down – turn off; to close (down)
  • Each other – Two or more people doing something together
  • International – involving two or more countries; of, relating to, or affecting two or more nations; 
  • Billion – 1,000,000,000 = one-billion
  • Anymore – no longer; from now on; If you do not do something or something does not happen anymore, you have stopped doing it or it does not now happen
  • Program – software/application on a computer; a tool on a computer
  • Million – 1,000,000 = one-million
  • App (application) – computer software/program, especially for smartphones and tablets
  • Popular – Liked by many people; something many people like; common; frequent
  • Become – To change into something else
  • Pandemic – when a disease or sickness goes all over the country or world

Discussion Questions

  • Did you ever use Skype? What did you think of it?
  • Why do you think people stopped using Skype?
  • Do you think it is better to have many different apps for communication, or just a few good ones? Why?
  • If you want to talk to friends far away, what app do you use?

Original Story

www.cnn.com
shutterstock editorial 14491954b
Skype is shutting down after two decades | CNN Business
Microsoft is shutting down Skype, the internet-based phone and video service that was once the dominant way of staying connected in the mid 2000s.

Fill-in-the-Blank Listening Practice

Listen to the story (American accent)

Skype will shut down _____ May 5th. Skype is about 20 years _____ .

With Skype, people can _____ and see each other on the computer or _____ . 20 years ago, international telephone calls were expensive, _____ Skype was free.

Skype is from Estonia. _____ bought Skype for $8.5 billion in _____ .

In May, people can’t use Skype _____ . Microsoft says to use Teams. Teams is another Microsoft _____ .

In 2011, 150 million people _____ Skype. In 2020, only 23 million people used Skype. _____ apps like FaceTime and WhatsApp are like Skype. _____ people use them.

Microsoft Teams is popular now. _____ million people use it. It became popular _____ the COVID-19 pandemic. Many businesses use it, _____ .