Microsoft to drop Messenger, switch to Skype
NEW YORK (AP) — Microsoft is scrapping its instant-messaging program and forcing most users to switch to Skype.
Maintaining Windows Live Messenger made less sense after Microsoft Corp. bought Skype for $8.5 billion last year. A new version of Skype released a few weeks ago allows users to sign in with a Microsoft account. By merging the two services, people won't have to maintain two separate contact lists.
Microsoft says much has changed in how people communicate. There's more use of text messaging and social networking, for instance.
Microsoft said in Tuesday's announcement that Messenger users who switch to Skype will get benefits such as the ability to call landline and mobile phones and better support on mobile devices.
Except for mainland China, Messenger will be discontinued worldwide after the first quarter of 2013.
Maintaining Windows Live Messenger made less sense after Microsoft Corp. bought Skype for $8.5 billion last year. A new version of Skype released a few weeks ago allows users to sign in with a Microsoft account. By merging the two services, people won't have to maintain two separate contact lists.
Microsoft says much has changed in how people communicate. There's more use of text messaging and social networking, for instance.
Microsoft said in Tuesday's announcement that Messenger users who switch to Skype will get benefits such as the ability to call landline and mobile phones and better support on mobile devices.
Except for mainland China, Messenger will be discontinued worldwide after the first quarter of 2013.
Why all the doom and gloom. Â Skype has messenger in it. Â What exactly is bad about this change?
I wonder if they're going to continue to support Lync?
I've used both... wife uses Skype to call her parents in ironically China... this is certainly annoying...
One more reason Microsoft continues to alienate consumers and fall behind. I dont use Skype and use messenger daily for work and miscellaneous communication. Now I have to start all over with a program designed for long distance audio and video communication.
 @northwestsurfer So, keep using skype as messenger then.  It's pretty much the same thing with better voice/video calls if you need them.
@Landshark Thats my point, I have to install something else now to do the same thing I do with messenger.
Ironically, I used to work in Messenger Systems Engineering back in 2004; that was a good job.
@northwestsurfer Same here.