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Windows Live Messenger to live no longer

by Mark Tyson on 7 November 2012, 11:30

Tags: Skype, Microsoft (NASDAQ:MSFT)

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Microsoft has announced on the Skype Blog that Windows Live Messenger is to be retired in Q1 2013 (except for in mainland China). Just a fortnight ago Microsoft integrated Messenger and Facebook messaging functionality into Skype version 6 for Mac and Windows. Earlier in mid-September a public beta version had the same functionality. I’ve used both versions and they seem to work without a hiccup with contacts from either platform.

If you still use Messenger or use both Messenger and Skype clients the Skype blog says that you “just need to update to the latest version of Skype, sign in using a Microsoft account, and your Messenger contacts will be there.” It really is as simple as that. It’s important to sign in with your Microsoft ID (if you have both Microsoft and Skype IDs) to get your Messenger contacts in the contact list.

Microsoft assures us it’s not just about shoving users over to a new platform for the sake of software development economy, Messenger users will get additional benefits over their old platform such as:

  • Broader device support for all platforms, including iPad and Android tablets
  • Instant messaging, video calling, and calling landlines and mobiles all in one place
  • Sharing screens
  • Video calling on mobile phones
  • Video calling with Facebook friends
  • Group video calling

An added benefit Microsoft doesn’t mention is that running Skype rather than Messenger has less impact on your system and start-up (if my PC is in any way typical). Also of course it’s better than running both messaging clients at the same time. Skype v6 was updated for both the modern UI and desktop Windows with the flatter and minimal look and feel of the new OS.

You can download the latest version of Skype here.

In recent times Messenger use has declined as Skype use has picked up, according to the Huffington Post. Skype works better in the wide Microsoft ecosystem as a communications program, on TVs and the Xbox for instance. Combine this with the monetisation opportunities for Skype and it was a natural choice for Microsoft.

Reading around however, not everyone is happy with the Skype Blog’s “good news”. Will you miss some features of Messenger that aren’t catered for by Skype?



HEXUS Forums :: 16 Comments

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I've been using Messenger for years with my girlfriend and though it's a pretty shoddy piece of software it is still fairly reliable. We tried skype last night on her new laptop and either it just can't cope with it or skype is taking too many resources - it is clearly superior in terms of both audio and video quality but that's no good if people's hardware can't deal with it. I strongly suspect the average 2 MB internet connection in the UK will also struggle.
What a shame. The once light and simple communication program is now to be replaced by the bloated rubbish (since Microsoft got involved) that is Skype….

Microsoft really are in the habit of pushing people away at the moment…

Linux or Chrome OS is calling…
Well I have loaded Skype on my windows 8 laptop and I do not like it, not sure if I will be looking for another messaging service but I did like windows live messenger.
I‘ve been using Messenger for years, but these days I prefer to use Skype, and only keep messenger running in the background to notify me of new hotmail messages arriving. So the only thing that worries me about this news, is that Skype currently doesn’t have the feature of a direct link to your hotmail account with instant email notifications. I run a home business, and have my website mail and gmail redirected to hotmail, so its always been nice to receive instant notifications from all the accounts in one place, rather than having to log into the various accounts each time. Messenger now feels really outdated, and I am sure once people give Skype a try, they will get used to it, and eventually prefer it. I tried Skype so many times in the past and hated it, usually uninstalling it after a few days, because of security issues, or it not playing nicely with other application, or that most people didn’t use it at the time, but the latest version seems to run without any issues, and now all my friends and clients have switched over to Skype, and I rarely see anyone online on messenger anymore. If Microsoft really are scrapping messenger, then I hope that hotmail is integrated before the axe falls.
I have logged in and it lost all my contact groups, no tabbed messaging windows and it seems to have added everyone i have deleted as well, This is not ready for use as msn/wlm and the 1Q of 2013 is dreamland why not port over the nice quality of audio, video and desktop sharing of skype into msn/wlm cause this just feels oh so wrong