Microsoft Killed Skype But Keeps Supporting GroupMe

GroupMe, the Microsoft-owned mobile group messaging app is getting a new Copilot integration. Microsoft’s Copilot AI assistant can now help GroupMe users write messages and assist them across their various group projects.

GroupMe joined Microsoft after Skype acquired the startup back in August 2011, just three months after Microsoft announced that it was acquiring Skype. Now, GroupMe lives on while Skype will be discontinued in May 2025 and be replaced by the free version of Microsoft Teams.

If you’re not a student, it’s probably easy to forget that GroupMe still exists and that Microsoft owns it. However, Mustafa Suleyman, the CEO of Microsoft AI said today that GroupMe has “millions of users” in over 70% of US colleges.

What do study groups, run clubs, and fantasy leagues all have in common? They run on groupchats. For millions of users and over 70% of US colleges, that means our app @GroupMe!

And now Copilot is right there in-app to support with a side chat or quick assist. pic.twitter.com/SoCiT3Lqj1

— Mustafa Suleyman (@mustafasuleyman) March 12, 2025

So yes, it seems that Microsoft will continue to invest in GroupMe even though the free version of Microsoft Teams may be a good alternative for students. With Teams, free users can set up Discord-like communities with built-in management, event planning, and file-sharing tools.

It’s quite surprising to see various Microsoft executives including Suleyman, Amit Fulay, and Yusuf Mehdi promote GroupMe today while the news of Skype’s demise is still fresh. I have personally never used GroupMe, but if you did, I’d be curious to learn about your experience with the app in the comments.