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Microsoft to Kill Messenger on March 15

Looks like Messenger is getting the gallows. Time to prepare
Jan. 9, 2013 Paul Thurrott

Update: Despite Microsoft's own email claiming that the Messenger service will be shut down on March 15, Peter Bright was able to confirm that the service shut down will actually take place over the next year and that only the Windows Live Messenger application is disappearing immediately.

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I had just heard from a source close to Microsoft that the impending death of Windows Live Messenger was perhaps a bit more serious than I had thought, and that the firm wouldn’t just be updating the software but would in fact be requiring users to stop using it. And now it’s official: Microsoft will shutter Windows Live Messenger and the Messenger service on March 15 and require customers to use Skype instead.

As bad as Windows Live Messenger is—and I was just joking about this POS on Twitter the other day—it’s also very clear that Skype simply isn’t an adequate replacement, not yet. So for those of you that do use Messenger, and that includes me, this could be a bit of a disaster.

News of the impending retirement came courtesy of an email from Microsoft, which is how the firm is alerting customers to the change. The email includes a FAQ explaining a few of the details of the switch.

“On March 15, 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,” the email alert reads, noting that if you “upgrade” to Skype, you can continue messaging your Messenger contacts via the Skype network.

“Messenger will continue to work as you know it today,” the FAQ notes. “If you are signed in with Messenger on your desktop you will see a banner notification to upgrade. When you click on the banner, an installer window will open with the request to upgrade. This will take you through our installer flow to install Skype and automatically uninstall Messenger.”

Oh my.

“After March 15, Messenger users on desktops will not be able to sign in and will only be able to upgrade to Skype,” the FAQ continues. “If you attempt to sign in, a notification will appear, and if you continue, you will be taken through our installer flow to install Skype and automatically uninstall Messenger at the same time.”

Skype is of course available in versions for the Windows desktop, Windows 8/RT/Metro, and various mobile platforms, including iPhone/iPad, Android, and Windows Phone 8. Some of you may be distraught to know that Skype now considers the Windows 8 (Metro) client to be its primary focus on Windows going forward.

I have to think some Skype update is on the way, and I’m curious how Microsoft’s messaging solutions—like the Messaging app in Windows 8 and Windows Phone—will be updated to handle this service retirement.

You can find out more about the move from Messenger to Skype on the Skype web site. But, again, Skype is just so lackluster at the few things Messenger did well, I’m not sure how well this is going to go. 

 

Update: Just to be clear, if you do upgrade to the latest Skype version today, it will uninstall Windows Live Messenger. It also prompts you to sign into Skype with your Messenger/Microsoft account.

Discuss this Article 27

The Duke
on Jan 9, 2013

I'm curious to see how this will also affect the Xbox 360 console, which also includes Messenger access.

The Duke
on Jan 9, 2013

Nevermind. The Messenger backbone isn't going away.

Curiously, this would seem to imply that the 360 does somewhat have connectivity to Skype now via Messenger and Video Kinect.

ScubaDog2008
on Jan 9, 2013

So, what does anyone use Messenger for that isn't already available via SMS, FB or Twitter? I stopped using Messenger many years ago--nobody I know actually uses it. It made more sense to focus on FB or SMS. In fact, I just don't get the proliferation of all the various messaging apps out there. Again, I just don't know anyone on ANY platform relying on them. I'm certainly open to being educated on it, here, but this just seems like such a non-issue in the bigger scheme.

Josh602
on Jan 9, 2013

And yet the Messenging app in Windows 8 and on Outlook.com still doesn't support Skype integration. Microsoft aren't ready for this move.

prettyconfusd
on Jan 9, 2013

Oh heck, this had better not turn out like the transition from Zune to Xbox Music did...

I can only pray there's some major updates coming to all Skype apps as from what I can see there's a huge functional gap between it and Messenger right now.

I'm assuming the messenger apps on Windows 8 and Windows Phone will just continue as standard though?

A shame this probably means there's even less chance of more services being included as part of a unified messaging solution.

Pete.
on Jan 9, 2013

Does Windows Messenger (included with XP) still work? I wonder if that will succumb to the automatic uninstall/upgrade.

qhendricks
on Jan 9, 2013

Eh, good riddance. I have to admit, I used to use messenger all the time, but my usage of it has dropped drastically over the years to the point where I can't even remember the last time I had it running on my pc.

I think more people are concerned about using social network messaging than anything else. Despite how limited it is, a large majority of those I know use Facebook chat or Google chat through Gmail.

If they update Skype to accommodate the impending doom of WLM, I wouldn't take much issue with it.

CarlM
on Jan 9, 2013

What a pile of crap. So, we upgrade to Skype why? So we can loose features?? We use Messenger for inter-office communication. Now I won't be able to set my status to Busy when I'm in a meeting? I won't be able to stay logged in to Messenger, but not Skype? There is no way to tell that someone pinged you while you were away from your desk without actually going into the app. And what happens to the Messenger integration with my Windows Phone??

They should at least give you feature parity. Upgrade?? Yeah, right.

The Duke
on Jan 9, 2013

Depending on the size of your office, your best solution would be Lync.

roncerr
on Jan 9, 2013

A better way to message on the LAN doesn't depend on the Internet. When Win98's Winpopup was eliminated, I had to switch to "Winpopup Lan Messenger". Not quite as reliable as Winpopup but it works OK (and may even be better if you have an always-on PC that can act as a server): http://www.winpopup-lan-messenger.com/download.html

ian.aldrighetti
on Jan 9, 2013

What about Windows Phone? There's Messenger integration in messaging, what will become of that?

arrow22
on Jan 9, 2013

I'm assuming it will work exactly the same, but will be re-labelled "Skype"

TheGeekNextDoor
on Jan 11, 2013

Sure hope Skype messages on Windows Phone actually come through properly. I don't get any notifications of messages via Skype on my phone at all. Skype on the phone is only good for being involved actively in a conversation...not getting random messages from friends throughout the day like I do with Messenger. Maybe they will route the Skype messages through the Messenger app on the phone.

The Messenger app will have to get Skype capability because Microsoft's entire story with that application is to start a conversation with someone on something like facebook or Live Messenger, and continue it on the road via text messaging without missing a beat.

ryanrpalmer
on Jan 9, 2013

Sad day. I've used every version of Messenger since it was first released, and I have met many wonderful lifelong friends through the service. Not to mention the countless memories of ridiculous all night conversations in those little IM windows.

ejryder3
on Jan 9, 2013

What about Outlook.com? I use messenger a lot at work.
The only thing I've found that sucks more than Skype on Windows 8 is Metro Skype on windows 8. In a day and age where multitasking is king, WHY would ANYONE want an app that is full screen and can only handle talking to one person at a time without turning into an ugly mess?

red77star
on Jan 9, 2013

Windows Messenger is just bloatware and again Skype is just another bloatware application. Luckily there is Ubuntu and good messengers with it which works on any service.

pthurrott
on Jan 9, 2013

Yeah, moving to Linux is obviously the number one alternative to using Windows Live Messenger.

Sigh.

developer
on Jan 9, 2013

I am using Microsoft Skype for Linux. :-)

bobby_b
on Jan 9, 2013

I upgrade a couple of weeks ago an I regret it; there is simply a too big of a functional gap between both applications. :-(
I hope they get their act together by then!
Luckily there's still MessengerPlus also; although this one also lacks nice features compared to the Messenger version.

NarcoSleepy
on Jan 9, 2013

I've commented on this elsewhere, but it's got my ire up so much, I must rant some more about it.
Skype is great for what it was originally intended, i.e. video chat. For me, that accounts for about .01% of my online communications, preferring text, which Skype is just complete ASS at.
The company I work for is migrating to Lync in a few weeks, so I guess we will soon see if that is any worse or better than the alternative.

The Duke
on Jan 9, 2013

We've been using Lync for over a year now. Think of it as Office Messenger + NetMeeting + Skype. Chatting is just like it was in Office Messenger (but improved). If you have never used that, it's very much like Messenger is today, just limited to within your company.

All in all, it does the job.

vermonter@hotma...
on Jan 9, 2013

Whatever your opinion of Windows Live Messenger, this story illustrates with stark clarity why a great many people are suspicious of cloud-based services; the provider can just shut you down on a whim, regardless of how important the service is to your communications strategy.

I've never used WLM, but my blood freezes sometimes at the thought that Google could just arbitrarily shut down gmail at any time, without caring a whit about the fact that my whole email setup would disappear in a puff of smoke.

Alarmist? Maybe. But at least with local services you control your own destiny.

roncerr
on Jan 9, 2013

"But at least with local services you control your own destiny." I know what you mean when you say that local is better than cloud. But it's still subject to being taken away by the "upgrade" process. So sure, if you like Outlook Express/Windows Mail, you can continue to use it as long as you don't "upgrade" past Vista. The goal of software upgrades seems to be to get you to upgrade to newer versions in the vein hope that the newer version will be better overall.

roncerr
on Jan 9, 2013

"Skype now considers the Windows 8 (Metro) client..." If you mean Windows RT it would be clearer is you said that. As stated, I'm not sure if you mean Windows 8 including it's Metro app or if you mean only the Metro app (excluding the x86 version).

JimmyFal
on Jan 10, 2013

They better be making a massive change to the Skype interface. I'm afraid because the way I use my IM's is to make a tall skinny window so I can see my list of online contacts. Then I can have tabbed conversations all going at the same time. IM is a crucial tool for me, they better not screw this one up, but the door for that is wide open. I can't use the Metro version of Skype on my desktop no way.

Mike84
on Jan 10, 2013

WLM is so totally outdated i can't believe anyone still uses it

Modern people now use mobile device based messengers... ie textmessage/imessage/whatsapp

a desktop based interface such as WLM is really only useful for professionals who will happily use Skype/Lync

Like the WLM app iPhone before it the Skype app is poor. Poor usage of battery, poor notifications, and the need for yet another username/password/profile is irritating.

LemonSaucy
on Jan 11, 2013

How does ICQ fit into the messaging picture?

ICQ current stable release 8.0.5977 as of 14 December 2012.

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