Microsoft's Skype has finally shut down, concluding its 22-year tenure as the once-dominant internet calling and messaging service. Microsoft acquired Skype in 2011 for $8.5 billion in what was then its largest-ever acquisition. At its peak, Skype had more than 300 million monthly active users and was synonymous with internet-based voice and video calling. For many, Skype was their first experience of speaking to someone halfway across the world for free, a radical shift from the dominance of telcos and expensive long-distance calls. The service steadily declined in relevance in recent years, with its active user base shrinking to approximately 36 million by 2023 as competitors such as Zoom, WhatsApp, and Microsoft's own Teams platform gained traction. Teams has since…

Microsoft is again worth more than Apple, as shares of the company are getting pummeled after it delayed its promised – and widely advertised (for which it faces class action lawsuit claiming false advertising) – Apple Intelligence-powered Siri and other AI features alongside increased U.S. import tariffs aiming to level the playing field in global trade. Apple shares have dropped some 23% over the past four trading sessions. Jordan Novet for CNBC: ‎ As of Tuesday’s close, Microsoft is worth $2.64 trillion, while Apple’s market cap stands at $2.59 trillion. While the market broadly is getting hammered by President Donald Trump’s sweeping tariff plan, Apple is getting hit the hardest among tech’s megacap companies due to the iPhone maker’s reliance…

Apple has lost its position as the world's most valuable public company to Microsoft following a dramatic four-day slide in its stock price, driven largely by concerns over President Donald Trump's escalating tariff war with China, where most of its iPhones are assembled. Apple's market capitalization fell to $2.59 trillion as of Tuesday's close, while Microsoft now sits at $2.64 trillion, reclaiming the top spot after briefly holding it earlier this year. Apple shares have plummeted approximately 23% over just four trading sessions, shaving $700 billion off its value, as panicked investors dump stock due to the company's exposure to China for manufacturing and sales. Apple relies heavily on Chinese manufacturing for its flagship products, making it especially vulnerable to…

Microsoft today marks its 50th anniversary, during which time it has been one of Apple's longest-standing and most prolific competitors. Microsoft was founded on April 4, 1975 by Bill Gates and Paul Allen, starting out as a software company developing a BASIC interpreter for the Altair 8800. It quickly become central to the personal computing revolution, including through its early collaboration with Apple, where Apple licensed Microsoft's BASIC for the Apple II in 1977. Microsoft's most significant early involvement with Apple came with the development of applications for the original Macintosh, including Word and Excel, which helped legitimize the Mac as a productivity tool. The 1985 launch of Microsoft Windows, which featured a graphical user interface similar to the Macintosh,…

While the “Magnificent Seven” stocks (Apple, Microsoft, Alphabet, Amazon, Nvidia, Meta, and Tesla) dominated the market in 2024 with impressive gains, their performance has turned negative in early 2025. Given their massive market caps, these companies wield considerable sway over the Nasdaq and S&P 500 indexes. Scott Lehtonen for Investor’s Business Daily: ‎ Apple stock declined 2.5% Friday, still below the 200-day line. On Jan. 30, the Cupertino, Calif.-based consumer electronics giant said it earned $2.40 a share on sales of $124.3 billion in the quarter ended Dec. 28. Analysts polled by FactSet had expected Apple earnings of $2.35 a share on sales of $124.3 billion. On a year-over-year basis, Apple earnings rose 10% while sales increased 4%. ‎ MacDailyNews…

Microsoft today announced that it will officially retire Skype on May 5, 2025, concluding its 14-year tenure as the owner of the once-dominant internet calling and messaging service (via Bloomberg). Microsoft acquired Skype in 2011 for $8.5 billion in what was then its largest-ever acquisition. At its peak, Skype had more than 300 million monthly active users and was synonymous with internet-based voice and video calling. The service steadily declined in relevance in recent years, with its active user base shrinking to approximately 36 million by 2023 as competitors such as Zoom, WhatsApp, and Microsoft's own Teams platform gained traction. Teams has since grown to 320 million monthly users, far surpassing Skype's remaining user base. The company's decision to discontinue…