Author: Josh

🤔 What you need to know about the migration – and how to make it painless.

📉 Why Is Skype Going Away?

Microsoft is officially retiring Skype for Business and Skype (free version) to make way for Microsoft Teams, a more integrated, flexible communication platform.

Here’s why:

• Skype is outdated and lacks the collaboration tools modern teams need.

• Microsoft Teams combines chat, calling, file sharing, video conferencing, and app integration all in one.

• Support and updates for Skype are ending. Staying on it long-term could expose your business to security risks and compatibility issues.

If you’ve been seeing those “Migrate to Teams” popups, this is why!

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⚠️ Before You Begin: Important Note About Teams Accounts

These instructions will help you move your existing Skype account into Microsoft Teams (Free). This can be useful if you want to preserve old conversations or maintain your Skype contacts.

However, if you already use Microsoft Office apps like Word, Excel, Outlook, or OneDrive, then you likely already have a Microsoft 365 Teams account set up for your organization.

✅ In that case, we recommend using your existing Teams account instead of creating a new one. It will:

• Automatically connect you with coworkers in your company

• Unlock all Teams features (like shared calendars, file storage, and admin controls)

• Provide better integration across your Microsoft apps

You should only follow the steps below if you want to use your Skype account as a backup or are not part of a Microsoft 365 business subscription.

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🛠️ How to Move from Skype to Teams – Step-by-Step

These instructions will allow you to keep your existing Skype account and move it into Teams. However, if you use Office/Word/Excel/Outlook, chances are you already have an existing Teams account. In which case, you should only follow these steps if you wish to keep a “backup” of your old conversations. You should use the Teams account that is already setup for you as it will “link” you to everyone else in your organization automatically and also provide you with the full features of Teams. The steps below only provides basic features.

Step 1: Watch for the Prompt in Skype
You’ll receive a notification in Skype that says it’s time to start using Microsoft Teams. Click Start using Teams to either launch the app (if installed) or begin downloading it.

Step 2: Install Microsoft Teams (If You Haven’t Already)

• Visit this page to download the Teams app for desktop or mobile.

• Or, you can use Teams on the web.

Step 3: Sign in With Your Skype Account
Use your current Skype email and password to sign in to Microsoft Teams. Your contacts and recent chat history will automatically carry over.

Step 4: Click “Get Started”
After logging in, click the Get Started button to begin setup.

⚠️ If you don’t see it, make sure you’re part of the Skype Insider and Teams Insider programs.

Step 5: Confirm Your Profile Details
You may be prompted to:

• Review your profile picture – click Continue to confirm.

• Verify your name – update or confirm your first and last name, then click Confirm.

Step 6: You’re All Set!
Your Teams Free account is now ready! You can:

• Chat with your old Skype contacts

• Make voice or video calls

• Explore added features like file sharing, meetings, and calendars

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🔗 Need More In-Depth Help?

We’ve summarized the basics, but Microsoft has a complete transition guide:
👉 View the official Microsoft support page here

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🤝 Need Help Migrating? We’ve Got You.

At Total PC, we help businesses transition smoothly to Microsoft Teams with:

• Chat history and file backup

• User setup and team structuring

• Training and remote support for your staff

📞 Schedule a Migration Consultation by contacting support – or just reach out your usual way and we’ll get you sorted.

Don’t wait until Skype stops working. Let’s get you up and running with Teams the right way.

What is a “Shared Short Code” you ask? If you have a cell phone, you have seen a Shared Short Code at some point. Look at the hundreds of text messages you’ve got, go ahead, I’ll wait… Somewhere in there (unless you delete all of your texts and keep it cleaner than 99% of people) you very likely have an automated text message from a phone number with only 5 or 6 digits, for example 95577 is our Shared Short Code, err was our Shared Short Code. Normal U.S. phone numbers are 11 digits, Country Code (1), Area Code (3), Prefix (3), and Line Number (4).

Yet there are those 5 or 6 digit Short Codes that are usually from large companies sending you service or appointment reminders, or coupons for a burrito, etc.. Those Short Codes can be expensive, so many smaller companies would get together and share one Short Code.

A Shared Short Code allowed hundreds if not thousands of companies to use the same Short Code by texting a unique keyword, something like “PIZZA” to 97575, which would indicate what company you’re messaging. For example Users texting PIZZA would be placed into the pizzerias contacts/subscribers list, texting CAR would place them into the dealerships, texting HOUSE would place them into the realtors, you get the point. However, even though this method allowed many companies to have access to inexpensive texting programs by a single shared code, each company had to have their own separate opt in list of subscribers. So, that meant just because you texted PIZZA to 97575, that only allows that pizzeria to solicit to you, not the dealership and not that realtor. Well, thanks to some abusers doing massive illegal marketing campaigns, sending texts to people that never opted in, cell phone carriers have decided to put a stop to Shared Short Codes.

Trumpia, a major Short Code provider, recently stated in an email sent June 26th, 2019:
“Even before this announcement, shared short codes were at risk of a single user misusing them, leading to carriers shutting down the entire code. This would negatively impact hundreds of users because of the action of one.”

What’s does all of this mean?!?!?

Well, those huge conglomerates that could afford to have a dedicated Short Code won’t be affected at all, they can keep on using their fancy 5 digit texting number. But, for us guys that don’t want to dish out $1,000 a month for that fancy 5 digit number, we’ll be forced to use toll-free like numbers for these programs. Shared Short Codes will no longer be allowed by cell phone carriers, but they understand legitimate business depend on these programs, so they are issuing groups of 800 numbers to be distributed to each individual business. This will allow Texting providers the ability to lock down offenders without affecting everyone else.

Do you have a Shared Short Code and need assistance transitioning? Total PC has been programming custom texting applications, APIs, and more for over a decade. Shoot us a message and we’ll get to work.