Did you see the words "I would say?" That means it's my opinion.
I would say, yes, there's those words again, that by ending the free 60 minutes of Skype included in a Microsoft 365 package, it shows their intention of shutting down the Skype servers in March 2026.
I posted weeks ago that it was my intention to leave $0.20AUD credit, so Skype would be around forever. Do you really think Microsoft will allow this?
I also posted I expect Microsoft to send out emails later this year with a deadline to use their Skype credit. I would say, yes, those words yet again, that the deadline for Skype credit will be March 26, to coincide with the end of the 60 Skype minutes with a Microsoft 365 subscription. This basically gives Microsoft 365 users 1 year, Skype subscribers 1 year, and Skype credit holders 1 year to continue to use Skype services, then Skype is shut down, as in, the Skype servers. Why would they continue to run them at a loss?
By March 26 the last of remaining subscriptions will be expiring and will not be renewed also.
Once again, this is just my opinion, as I just can't see them allowing Skype uses to hold on to Skype credit for another 20 years out of protest, which is possible, because in that case, there isn't actually a "shut down" of Skype, is there?
I have not heard about using Skype credit once every 6 months, do you have a link for this.
If what you say is correct, as an example, even the small $0.20AUD I proposed to leave in Skype, forever, out of protest, if I was to make one call every 6 months at $0.01AUD a minute, and hang up straight away, then that credit will last for 10 years, at $0.02 per year, and that's only $0.20AUD. What about people with $50AUD credit that are infrequent users, calling their bank or government departments, rarely. That $50AUD will last for years, even with one call every 6 months and they hang up straight away just to keep their credit active.
Do you really think Microsoft are going to allow a declining number of people to continue using Skype, whilst not making any income from Skype, for years to come, running servers at a loss the whole time? I don't think so.