Year Ender 2025: From Skype and AOL to Apple devices, Google tools and startups, here's a complete list of tech services and products that ended this year.
Year Ender 2025: Tech services and products that ended this year [Photo: X]
2025 was a year of change in the tech world. Many well-known products and services came to an end. Some were old favourites that lasted decades, while others were newer innovations that failed to gain traction. These shutdowns highlight how fast technology evolves and how companies adapt to new trends, competition and user needs.
One of the most iconic technologies of the early internet, Skype ended its run in 2025. Microsoft retired the service on May 5, moving users to Microsoft Teams. Skype once changed how we talked online, but newer tools overtook it in popularity and features.
Another piece of internet history also closed this year. AOL’s dial-up internet service was discontinued on September 30, 2025, after 34 years of operation. The service once helped millions first connect online. Its end shows how older technologies make way for modern broadband and wireless connectivity.
The read-it-later app Pocket officially closed in July 2025. Mozilla, which owned the service, shut it down as part of a broader product restructuring. Users were given time to export saved content before the app disappeared.
Piggy, a zero-commission mutual fund investment platform, also ended operations in June 2025. Users needed to withdraw funds before the closure. This shutdown reflects challenges faced by fintech startups in a competitive market.
In early 2025, Meta shut down its third-party fact-checking program in the U.S. The decision affected how misinformation is managed online and sparked debate about content moderation.
Google continued trimming its ecosystem this year. Several services officially ended, including:
The shutdowns reflect Google’s ongoing push to simplify tools and focus on core products.
Apple streamlined its lineup in 2025, retiring around 25 products, including phones, tablets, watches, Macs, and accessories.
These changes reflected Apple’s focus on USB‑C transition, updated silicon, and next-gen products.
Several Microsoft products reached end-of-support in 2025, meaning no updates or patches will be provided:
This affected millions of users and businesses globally, emphasising the importance of timely software upgrades.
Several startups and apps closed operations in 2025:
These closures show the risk and volatility of digital businesses, especially startups and niche apps.
The events of 2025 showed that even established platforms are not permanent. Companies retired legacy products, shut down underperforming services, and pushed users toward newer ecosystems. As technology evolves faster than ever, adaptability remains the key to survival.
