Messenger out, Skype in?

[Dos_Box]

Looks like Microsoft are finally doing something with their buy-out of Skype the other year: Microsoft shoots Windows Live Messenger, brings in Skype IM ? The Register

 

Microsoft is reported to be retiring its popular messaging client in favour of Skype.Long-time Microsoft watcher Tom Warren writes here that the Windows Live Messenger service is to be wound up in the coming months and folded into Skype. An announcement is expected possibly as soon as this week.

The Register contacted Microsoft about the move, but it remained unable to comment at time of publication.

 

Obviously this is not a confirmed move by Microsoft, but I can see it making sense in the long term.

[hardtailstar]

tbh i havent used thier messenger for ages but have used skype/twitter/facebook/G+ for internet based messaging.

 

I can see this as a good thing.

[glennda]

I've not used messenger for a long time. I have now recently started using skype for facebook messaging now as i found the facebook installer kept crashing,

[AngryTechnician]

Interesting, as I actually removed WLM in favour of Skype on my home machine on Friday. It had got to the point where I only really used WLM as a Facebook chat client, and Skype does that now too, only better.

[AngryTechnician]

Confirmed: Skype - The Big Blog - Talk to your Messenger Contacts on Skype

 

We will retire Messenger in all countries worldwide in the first quarter of 2013 (with the exception of mainland China where Messenger will continue to be available).

[CyberNerd]

It used to be amazingly popular with kids back in the day. I guess it just can't keep up with the mobile/camera/xbox generation.

Good call on MS for acquiring skype.

[localzuk]

I still use MSN, it is a much nicer chat client than basically all of the others in my opinion. I don't like skype!

[elsiegee40]

It used to be amazingly popular with kids back in the day. I guess it just can't keep up with the mobile/camera/xbox generation.

Good call on MS for acquiring skype.

 

I think that's it. My teens use headsets and Skype to chat to groups of mates... voice only, they won't pay for group video! MSN is no longer used by either.

 

With 5000 free texts in their monthly call plan they use their phones like MSN at times though

Edited November 6, 2012 by elsiegee40

[jamesfed]

Never liked Skype much but then again I haven't used it since Microsoft bought them out....WLM on the other hand is still quite heavily used by me especially to keep in touch with my other half at uni.

 

But hey guess that's progress for you time to see how well the Skype application works on Windows RT!

[CyberNerd]

I think that's it. My teens use headsets and Skype to chat to groups of mates... voice only, they won't pay for group video! MSN is no longer used by either.

 

With 5000 free texts in their monthly call plan they use their phones like MSN at times though

 

Strange how it works with different generations.

Everyone my age seems to use google chat video.

[john]

MSN was big when I was younger and I still use it now, well I use pidgin on my laptop actually much lighter than MSN and allows me to integrate all-sorts of chats into one client which is better But not impressed at the forced move to Skype myself

[CyberNerd]

MSN was big when I was younger and I still use it now, well I use pidgin on my laptop actually much lighter than MSN and allows me to integrate all-sorts of chats into one client which is better But not impressed at the forced move to Skype myself

 

By using pidgin you had for foresight not to get locked in the first place.

[glennda]

I used to use it massively for chatting. Was what we had before mobile phones came in at an affordable price. Stopped using it when i left school about 5 years ago

[CyberNerd]

I used to use it massively for chatting. Was what we had before mobile phones came in at an affordable price. Stopped using it when i left school about 5 years ago

 

I thought you were a bit older, at least in the ICQ generation

[plexer]

Just wondering why they don't roll it up into lync and be done with it, one unified communications system.

 

Ben

[EduTech]

Just wondering why they don't roll it up into lync and be done with it, one unified communications system.

 

Ben

 

Microsoft have internally moved the Lync Development Team into the Skype Team, but have been strictly told that Lync is for Enterprises and that Skype is for Consumers.

 

James.

[glennda]

Microsoft have internally moved the Lync Development Team into the Skype Team, but have been strictly told that Lync is for Enterprises and that Skype is for Consumers.

 

James.

 

that would be why the bought skype then - nobody could see a way to make skype really commercially viable originally when it was offered for sale.

[plexer]

Microsoft have internally moved the Lync Development Team into the Skype Team, but have been strictly told that Lync is for Enterprises and that Skype is for Consumers.

 

James.

 

Fair enough but they could do Lync Lite Free for consumers One product and technology.

 

Ben

[EduTech]

Fair enough but they could do Lync Lite Free for consumers One product and technology.

 

Ben

 

I know what you mean, It could have the ability to sign-in to say the Skype Service as oppose to having another client.

 

Skype is a different division though within Microsoft, so I guess they are keeping that primarily on consumers whilst allowing federation into Lync 2013. (Video not supported initially)

 

James.