Microsoft has quietly shifted its Skype business strategy, bringing an end to account top-ups and phone number purchases, and instead promoting a subscription-based model for region-specific and global calling plans.
This change will significantly impact Skype's massive user base, with the platform boasting 36 million active users, according to the latest data from Microsoft. Users will no longer be able to make phone calls through Skype using credit or purchased phone numbers, and will instead be required to subscribe to one of the available plans.
The move is a significant departure from the traditional pay-as-you-go model, which allowed users to make calls at a lower cost without the need for a subscription. However, the shift to a subscription-based model could lead to increased revenue for Microsoft, as users will be required to pay a recurring fee for the service.
The change is also expected to impact Skype's user experience, as users will be required to manage their subscriptions and plan usage in order to avoid incurring additional charges. This could lead to increased complexity and frustration for users who are not tech-savvy or comfortable with managing multiple subscriptions.
The exact implications of this change are still unclear, and it remains to be seen how Skype users will adapt to the new subscription-based model. However, one thing is certain - the writing is on the wall for the traditional pay-as-you-go model, and Microsoft is betting big on the success of its subscription-based approach.