In a move that's been coming for some time, Microsoft is gearing up to retire the Skype app for some older platforms on July 1. The company has started alerting Skype users to the app's impending retirement on older platforms, specifically calling out Windows Phone 8 and 8.1, along with Windows RT. Even Skype for TV and Skype integration with the Messaging app for Windows 10 Mobile are being retired, Microsoft says (via Thurrott.com).
From the message:
We've noticed that you are, or previously were, using Skype on Windows Phone 8, Windows Phone 8.1, Messaging app for Windows 10 Mobile, Windows RT or a TV. We're sorry to inform you that we will be permanently retiring these versions of Skype. As a result, after July 1, 2017, you will no longer be able to sign in to these versions of Skype.
The retirement has been long-planned, with Microsoft announcing its intentions to leave some legacy versions of the app behind as it worked to revamp the backend of the messaging service over the past year. This alert, however, is the first time we've seen an exact shutdown date.
If you're still using Skype on one of the affected platforms, you'll likely have to resort to the web after July 1 in place of the native apps. For Windows Phone users, the most logical move would be to Windows 10 Mobile if possible; the new universal Skype app recently shed its preview tag and is ready for primetime.
