So what would you do if you were Microsoft and you owned both Windows Live Messenger as well as the far more popular Skype? If you answered "get rid of one of them," you may be correct.
The Verge is reporting on a so-called "exclusive" detailing the fate of Windows Live Messenger, Microsoft's instant messaging service formerly known as MSN Messenger, which may find the IM service in danger of extinction soon.
With the introduction of both Facebook and Microsoft account logins with the latest Skype 6.0 client, it may come as little surprise that Redmond is considering a retirement of Windows Live Messenger in favor of its more powerful (and likely more used) Skype VoIP service, which also includes the same type of chat feature.
Apparently, 80 percent of all IMs sent via Skype are being handled by Messenger as more and more users flock to Skype for its more robust feature set and the ability to video chat for free to any other user worldwide.
The report claims Microsoft "will announce the retirement of Windows Live Messenger soon, possibly as early as this week," according to Verge sources. Microsoft has yet to comment on the report, but if true, such a move is unlikely to surprise too many people.
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Chris Charlton
November 05, 2012 at 11:36am
It's about time. In fact, I feel the best move would be to re-brand other items as Skype, including some of Microsoft's Telephony services & hardware, including mobile. The Skype name is new, fresh, and hip - all three things that Microsoft on it's own today is not.
