News
Microsoft will retire Skype in May, with Teams taking over its communication role. According to TechNews, many once-popular services—from Nokia’s mobile division to MSN Messenger and Wunderlist—have gradually declined, or disappeared altogether, after being acquired by Microsoft. While exceptions like GitHub and LinkedIn have continued to operate steadily, they too have faced some user criticism after the acquisition, the report adds. Below is an overview of some notable examples that were once widely loved by users but ultimately faded into history after becoming part of the company.
Skype
Microsoft acquired Skype for USD 8.5 billion in 2011, aiming to integrate it into the Windows and Office ecosystem. Over time, however, performance issues and a declining user experience drew criticism. As Microsoft shifted its focus to enterprise collaboration with Teams, Skype was eventually phased out, the report notes.
Nokia’s Mobile Division
In 2013, Microsoft acquired Nokia’s mobile division for USD 7.2 billion and launched the Lumia series to compete with iOS and Android. But weak app support led to poor sales, and by 2016, Microsoft shut down the phone division, with Nokia fading from the mainstream market.
Hotmail
Microsoft acquired Hotmail in 1997 and later integrated it into Outlook.com. While framed as a brand and feature upgrade, many original users faced data sync issues during the transition, prompting significant backlash.
Groove Networks
Microsoft acquired Groove Networks in 2005 in an effort to compete with Apple Music and Spotify. However, Groove never gained mainstream traction, and Microsoft ultimately shut down the Groove Music Store in 2017.
Sunrise Calendar
Sunrise Calendar was a well-loved app, known for its clean design and cross-platform integration. Microsoft acquired it in 2015 but shut it down just a year later, merging its features into Outlook Calendar.
Wunderlist
This popular task management app had a loyal user base. After Microsoft acquired it in 2015, the service was discontinued within a few years and replaced by Microsoft To Do, which was criticized for weaker user experience and less stability.
aQuantive
In 2007, Microsoft acquired aQuantive for a then-record USD 6.3 billion to challenge Google’s ad dominance. But slow integration and underperforming ad tools led to a full write-off by 2012, marking a major financial failure.
Beam
Microsoft acquired game streaming platform Beam in 2016, rebranding it as Mixer to take on Twitch. But poor promotion and weak creator incentives led to user losses. Mixer shut down in 2020, with operations handed off to Facebook Gaming.
Read more
(Photo credit: Microsoft)
