Microsoft Getting Ready to Close Down Windows Live Messenger in October
Windows Live Messenger (also known as MSN Messenger) is going to be completely closed down in October of this year. Microsoft already started phasing out Windows Live Messenger in April of 2013 when it cancelled the software everywhere but mainland China, where it is still available. However, as of October even China will no longer be able to use the 15-year old MSN Messenger. Any Chinese users who are still using the service will be switched over to Skype by October 31st.
Windows Live Messenger users recently received an email describing the changes and encouraging them to switch to Skype, which Microsoft bought for 8.5 billion in October of 2011. Within 9 months of purchasing Skype, Microsoft had already begun integrating the program into its Microsoft Office suite.
Messenger Memories
To many computer users, the end of MSN Messenger is a nostalgic event, considering how long the software has been in use. MSN Messenger was around before all of the major messaging and social networking services of today. It came way before Facebook, Gmail, Myspace, Twitter, Snapchat, WhatsApp and all the rest. Using MSN Messenger often brings back memories of the days when you used to have to find something else to do while your snail-speed dial-up connection loaded a single page.
Do we miss those days of caveman internet, funny screen names, and plain websites? Of course not, but it was a fun time exploring the internet in its public infancy, and MSN Messenger was there right along with AIM and all of the other software and services that are now viewed only as historical monuments of the world wide web.
Microsoft's Skype Acquisition
Five years ago when Microsoft rebranded MSN Messenger to Windows Live Messenger the software had more than 330 million active users on a monthly basis. Two years after that the company bought Skype and began transferring its user base over. Within one year of the acquisition Skype's user base rose to almost 300 million.
Games for Windows Live Will Stay Up
Last year Microsoft also announced that it would be putting an end to its Xbox PC Marketplace, which it did wind up doing on August 22nd, 2013. After many users became concerned that they wouldn't be able to play the games they downloaded through Games for Windows Live, Microsoft assured customers that Games for Windows Live will remain a service and that you can still play previously downloaded content but you can't download new games.
Microsoft Shifting Towards Hardware
This all seems to be a part of the company's phasing out of software development and into hardware production, especially given its acquisition of Nokia. In a world of ever-changing mobile devices it appears that Microsoft realizes the value in creating its own devices and the software that runs on those devices simultaneously.
