Microsoft to kill the Messenger on March 15

[Brink]

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. But 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

Read more at source:
Microsoft to kill the Messenger on March 15 | Microsoft - CNET News

 

[LuzTeTT]

I have been looking forward to this for a very long time.
So far it's as simple as logging in with your Microsoft/Live account on Skype, where your contacts will slowly transfer over and your Skype account, if existing, will tie up with your Messenger account.

 

[boohbah]

thats a bit annoying, i use trillian and have messenger signed in there.

 

[jimbo45]

Hi there
SKYPE works fine -- not sure why people are making a fuss about this.

SKYPE also works excellently on Android tablets and smartphones too -- might even work with some of "The Fruit company's" devices --don't know as I don't usually buy from them.

Anyway SKYPE's a great way of making 30 min or longer VIDEO calls as well as "Standard phone calls" from places like Reykjavik to Sydney without having to re-mortgage your house for the privilege - in fact with Skype it only costs a few Euro cents or even free if both partners have Skype connections.

If you need a more corporate or "Officey" type of instant messenger these days why not switch to Ms LYNC - It's now included with Office 2010 / 2013 (Professional and Enterprise versions) so your company could set up a Lync server (or use a cloud based one) and use that for instant messaging (with Video).

http://lync.microsoft.com/en-gb/Pages/default.aspx?CR_CC=200157893&CR_CC=200157893&WT.srch=1

Cheers
jimbo

 

[boohbah]

no fuss, just a slight annoyance. i use trillian ,it pulls together my messenger account ,gtalk account,yahootalk,facebook chat.
from one interface and software i can instant message all my contacts for the above accounts. its really handy not to have to go to another software or site to use the chat facility, i can also monitor my emails and pm's for all my accounts using trillian.
so soon i will have trillian for my usual accounts and skype for messenger.
two softwares when one did the job previously.

 

[Lady Fitzgerald]

I won't miss it. I never use messenger, both because of spammers that abuse it and because it demands my immediate attention when it pops up. I prefer emails.

 

[Borg 386]

If you regularly used it, you might miss it. Those that didn't use it generally found it an annoyance.

 

[Lady Fitzgerald]

If you regularly used it, you might miss it. Those that didn't use it generally found it an annoyance.

Annoyance is a polite term.

 

[bobafetthotmail]

^seconded.

 

[tannim]

I hate how skype handles copying previous messages(by sticking that tag crap on it that includes who said it and such) and how it handles message history. Sadly, skype is a bloated resource hog on my computer that always drains 2-5% cpu

 

[chev65]

Skype shows 0 resources being used for me.

I remember when Msoft purchased Skype for 8.5 billion last May 2011, figured they would change over eventually. I received the email with the link for the upgrade this morning.

 

[COMPUTIAC]

I thought it was a prank,

so I killed the message about killing the messenger !

Never used it anyway.

 

[FerchogtX]

Ha... glad I uninstalled Messenger and replaced with Skype... I rarely used Messenger on the last year or so... O_O
Indeed, looks lightweight compared to WLM... I hope the keep Skype the same as it is now.

 

[Lebon14]

I was personally using it but, even though, I was connected, I was rarely chatting. But, the main reason why I used Messenger (2009) was because how useful it was regarding e-mail notifications. If I had a new e-mail coming in, a popup would appear and if I clicked it, it would open a new tab immediately in Firefox. If I missed that notification, there was the button in upper right corner showing a (1) so I would click on it and get to my new e-mail. That's the only thing I would miss it for.

 

[Cash]

As much as I like Messenger, I seldom use it. I have accounts on both and I very much prefer Skype so this news is good for me.

 

[x BlueRobot]

I used to use WLM, but I only used the Windows Messenger ID for my e-mails, however they seem to already have switched the Hotmail interface to the Outlook version.

 

[Lebon14]

I used to use WLM, but I only used the Windows Messenger ID for my e-mails, however they seem to already have switched the Hotmail interface to the Outlook version.

Not me. I still have the old UI (Hotmail UI). Not complaining at all!!

 

[x BlueRobot]

I used to use WLM, but I only used the Windows Messenger ID for my e-mails, however they seem to already have switched the Hotmail interface to the Outlook version.

Not me. I still have the old UI (Hotmail UI). Not complaining at all!!

How did you manage to keep it? Is it based upon browser version?

 

[UnknownReverent]

I used to use WLM, but I only used the Windows Messenger ID for my e-mails, however they seem to already have switched the Hotmail interface to the Outlook version.

Not me. I still have the old UI (Hotmail UI). Not complaining at all!!

As do I. I have the option to opt to the new one though.

 

[Lebon14]

How did you manage to keep it? Is it based upon browser version?

I really don't know how I was able to keep the old version. Sorry, I can't help.