Indeed, it's true and you will cry a river for it, if you love to use it. Probably, that was the reason why Microsoft acquired Skype, in order to get rid of old Live Messenger, but in this case, why spending so much time in creating an improved and synchronized version for Facebook? It doesn't make sense, but this is the new rule of the game: good-bye, Windows Live Messenger!
Microsoft, Closing Windows Live Messenger
Microsoft has just announced it intends to retire its instant message chat tool, in order to replace it with Skype's messaging tool. When Microsoft acquired Skype 18 months for $8.5 billion, everybody though it would create a hybrid app for Windows RT and Windows Phone gadgets, but this move is quite hallucinating. Obviously, Microsoft aims to hit Android and iOS market, but it might cost it a lot of loyal fans, not willing to accept this fact.
Microsoft said Windows Live Messenger would be turned off by March 2013 worldwide, with the exception of China. Interestingly why not China? Is it in love with the old tool and won't accept Skype? Or is it that the Chinese government fears Skype's illusion of freedom?
Launched in 1999 as MSN Messenger, Windows Live Messenger tried to be somebody else, borrowing from rival's features, mainly Yahoo mail. Original or not, it managed to reach the attention of 330 million active users, so Microsoft could easily revamp it rather than killing it.
According to internet analysis firm Comscore, Windows Live Messenger had more than double the number of Skype's instant messenger facility at the start of this year in the US, and was second in popularity, after Yahoo Messenger. Steve Ballmer, what have you thought? I hope Microsoft won't ever regret this move.
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