Skype for Business Online will be shutting down on July 31, 2021, but the consumer version of Skype, available for download, remains unaffected. Businesses that use Microsoft 365 and Skype for Business Online must switch to another video and messaging service, with Microsoft recommending Microsoft Teams as a suitable alternative. The decision to shut down Skype for Business Online is part of Microsoft's broader effort to move away from the Skype brand, which has become less relevant in recent years, particularly during the global pandemic when Zoom and other services gained popularity.