Microsoft confirms Messenger will be retired and users migrated to Skype on March 15. Tuesday, Microsoft started mass emailing to its 100 million+ Messenger users to let them know that the service is officially being retired on March 15, 2013; on that date, all users will be migrated to Skype.(Microsoft acquired Skype back in May 2011 for $8.5 billion).
It will only keep working afterwards in mainland China, mainly because Skype is operated there by a local provider called TOM.
Microsoft previously said the transition would happen in Q1 2013. By revealing the date, confirming the company is still right on schedule to make the big move from Messenger to Skype.
No worries for messenger users at all; Skype will give the option to merge your own accounts, as well as message both types of contacts. Messanger users have to download and install Skype (ideally the latest version). Just login with microsoft accout and all your Messenger contacts will be available inside.This is possible since Microsoft moved its Messenger users over to Microsoft accounts a while ago, just as it brought Skype under the same umbrella. As such, the two have technically been connected for some time.
Many use both Messenger and Skype, but Microsoft wants everyone to just use the latter. It doesn’t make sense for the company to maintain and update two communication tools for consumers.
Courtesy : The Next Web
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