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Messenger to Skype migration will start on 8th April

by Mark Tyson on 18 February 2013, 10:00

Tags: Skype, Microsoft (NASDAQ:MSFT)

Quick Link: HEXUS.net/qabstj

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In November last year we first heard that Windows Live Messenger was to be retired during Q1 2013. Now we have more details of the timetable and what exactly will happen. At the end of last week Parri Munsell wrote on the Skype blog, “The upgrade from Messenger to Skype on Windows desktop will start on April 8.” Furthermore the process, for English speakers, will be finished by 30th April.

After the 8th of April Windows Live Messenger clients will start to be restricted from signing into the service. When you are restricted will depend upon your language and region. The restriction in signing in will be accompanied with an upgrade notification asking you to install Skype. Microsoft is pre-caching the Skype installer on machines to make the process smoother.

Official Skype blog writer Parri Munsell emphasises Skype advantages in his news post entitled Skype and Messenger Coming Together: The Next Chapter. First of all he reminds us that Skype is available on more platforms; “Upgrading to Skype can help you communicate in flexible ways, and be connected on more devices and platforms including Windows, Mac, iOS, Windows Phone, Android and soon Blackberry.” Also, in addition to having many features in common with Messenger like “emoticons, group instant messaging, and screen sharing”, he says that Skype can do quite a bit more.

Official Skype blog’s list of Skype advantages:

  • Instant message conversation history
  • The ability to edit and remove instant messages
  • Being able to share files and contact information
  • Video calling and instant messaging with Facebook friends
  • Group video calling

Microsoft has created an online tutorial for people migrating from Messenger to Skype and you can view that here. Microsoft completed its purchase of Skype in October 2011, at a cost of $8.5 billion. At the time of the acquisition the company stated “Microsoft is committed to the ubiquity of the Skype experience – communication across every device and every platform will remain a primary focus”. True to its word Microsoft has integrated Skype more and more into its software ecosystem.

HEXUS Forums :: 16 Comments

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Posted by TheAnimus - Mon 18 Feb 2013 10:51
Because when you've two competeting technologies, you should never allow the users to choose the one they want.
Posted by crossy - Mon 18 Feb 2013 11:08
Official Skype blog’s list of Skype advantages:

Instant message conversation history
The ability to edit and remove instant messages
Being able to share files and contact information
Video calling and instant messaging with Facebook friends
Group video calling

It's slightly naughty because - according to what I've just read - Group call is a “premium” feature so after you've used up your complimentary 20 credit then you'll have to pay for it.

Apart from the upsell that seems to be going on in the clients, (and a worrying lack of any “Privacy” controls - so if I put in my home phone number is that limited to my contacts or can anyone see that?), I'm generally positive about this. Remember that in addition to supporting Android, Skype also supports quite a few Linux distro's - so well done Microsoft for migrating to something that's at least claiming cross platform credentials.

Plus £3/month for the Premium account isn't that bad if you're one of those social butterflies that can really make use of the extra credits and features. I'm not, so I'll be staying with the free services. Although the screen sharing might be a nice feature for those “this isn't working” support calls from family! ;)

Then again, I didn't really use LM much - mainly because it was pretty much a Windows-only thing, and I tend to use Linux (/Android) a heck of a lot more. Maybe the migration to Skype will change that and make me more “connected”.
Posted by YenRug - Mon 18 Feb 2013 11:17
Where's the tutorial that shows you how to stop Skype using your PC as a Supernode, Microsoft?
Posted by AGTDenton - Mon 18 Feb 2013 11:21
And now for some disadvantages:

. No LAN file sharing
. Only a single chat window at a time - EDIT: Seems compact view does allow this
. No games - really enjoyed multiplayer minesweeper
. Poor interface for chatting to multiple people, ‘Recent’ tab has to be shown all the time meaning you often miss other people who have signed in.
. No grouping of contacts - EDIT: Custom lists are available from the ‘Contacts’ file menu
. When I used Video chat with one person, it meant I was unable to chat to someone else as when I went to click on another person it wanted to end my video chat
Posted by crossy - Mon 18 Feb 2013 11:37
YenRug
Where's the tutorial that shows you how to stop Skype using your PC as a Supernode, Microsoft?
Does https://cs.uwaterloo.ca/twiki/view/CF/SkypeConfiguration still work?

I've also read around that trying to use Skype on a NAT'd network (which let's face it is most home broardband setups these days) is also a way to apply kyptonite to that supernode status.

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