Beware the Ides of March if you are a user
of Microsoft's Windows Messenger Live.
Microsoft announced last November it
would soon retire its instant messaging
client in favor Skype, which Microsoft
acquired in October 2011 . Today it began
informing Messenger users that the service
would go dark for the majority of users on
March 15.
Hello,
On 15th March 2013 we are retiring
the existing Messenger service globally
(except for mainland China where
Messenger will continue to be
available) and bringing the great
features of Messenger and Skype
together. Update to Skype and sign in
using a Microsoft Account (same as
your Messenger ID) and all your
Messenger contacts will be at your
fingertips. You'll be able to instant
message and video chat with them just
like before, and also discover new
ways of staying in touch with Skype on
your mobile and tablet.
Yours sincerely,
The Messenger Team
Skype officials said in late October that
Skype would most likely replace Messenger
someday but had declined to provide a
public timetable. A blog post in November
indicated the switchover would occur
during the first quarter of 2013.
Skype began testing new Windows and Mac
beta releases in October that let users sign
in to Skype using their Windows Live ID,
allowing them to send and receive instant
messages and see the presence information
of those using Live Messenger, Xbox,
Hotmail or Outlook.com.
After migrating from Messenger to Skype,
users will be able to use Skype's instant
messaging, as well as its video calling,
landline calling, screen sharing, and video
calling on mobile phones.
http://m.cnet.com/news/microsoft-to-kill-the-messenger-on-march-15/57562929