Microsoft to 'retire' Windows Live Messenger (MSN) March 2013; Migrate to Skype

[ElMartu]

next to every dick move microsoft (and Apple too) made, this one isn't half bad really, people are just afraid of change

[PulseEffect]

Have been using Skypr for a while now,
You all must come to the dark side!

[Zorex116]

They should have done this long ago, only americans use MSN.. Europeans widely use Skype

Yep I use barely use skype to chta with IRL friends

[SugarD]

next to every dick move microsoft (and Apple too) made, this one isn't half bad really, people are just afraid of change

I have to both agree and disagree. Skype is a great communication program, yes, but it is not meant for being mainly a text-based chat program. If Microsoft implemented many of the features missing in Skype that MSN had, I would be fine with the move...but they haven't and likely won't in many cases. The ability to share images was an enormous part of what made it popular in recent years, and the customizations, variety of communication forms, and Yahoo! IM linking made it even bigger. We also cannot forget the "permanent" chat groups, unlike the ones in Skype which are easy to leave, even on accident, and there's also a much-slower response time with Skype too.

I've been running Windows Live Messenger 2012, Skype 6 For Windows Desktop, Skype 6 Windows app, and Windows 8's Messenging app all side-by-side...and time and again MSN is the only one that is truly "instant". The other messages sometimes take seconds to minutes to come in, and in some cases I'll even receive them up to 20 minutes after the conversation has long since ended.

The only way I will support this move is if Microsoft gets their ***es into gear and solves these issues. If they do, they will have my full support...but until then I'm sticking with my good, old MSN.

[Ragdoll]

but until then I'm sticking with my good, old MSN.

Yes! Yes! Yes! Yes! Yes! If only those words were in my mouth for you to take them! Screw Skype...

[Radagast]

Perrrfectly happy with Skype :-)

[Dexter]

For me this works perfectly. I do not like to use many chat programs anyways and I already have skype for a long time. And I really do not find any bad sides from skype when comparing it to msn. Only good sides. The thing is that many people have got used to msn and are afraid to start using skype  :poke:

[Xavier12]

I dont regret for it.Hurray!  :devroll:

[EliteTerm]

Is AOL Instant Messenger still around?

[SugarD]

Is AOL Instant Messenger still around?

Unfortunately.

But in all seriousness, it is linked to ICQ now, which they also own and is based on the same protocol, although much, much older.

[Karmps.]

Skype is made by Estonians so its fine by me

[LeetCreeperXXL]

Like 95% of the romanian population uses Yahoo!...

[Devin]

Well Skype released a new update last night/today allowing you to merge MSN with Skype, I must say, first impressions aren't too bad.
Although they must work on the login system, as each time you want to sign into both,
you have to click on MSN on the right of the skype login screen, sign in through that, then it connects to both.
It has its ups and downs, I am not too brought over by it, but it's something that people will get used to over time I guess.
Change isn't always bad, sometimes change is needed.

[Hess]

Well Skype released a new update last night/today allowing you to merge MSN with Skype, I must say, first impressions aren't too bad.
Although they must work on the login system, as each time you want to sign into both,
you have to click on MSN on the right of the skype login screen, sign in through that, then it connects to both.
It has its ups and downs, I am not too brought over by it, but it's something that people will get used to over time I guess.
Change isn't always bad, sometimes change is needed.

Have just merged my contacts. Now I don't have to use MSN again, which recently started trolling me by taking 5 minutes to open up every convo window... -.- never again! (I hope)

[SugarD]

Don't get me wrong, I like that Microsoft has chosen to unify the users...but the sudden and unplanned way they have done it is pretty stupid in my opinion. Not only are both sides losing some features, but the loss of specific things, like communication with Yahoo! IM contacts, and the ability to share images through drag and drop...ya...that is just stupid to me. The fact that Skype also takes MUCH longer to receive messages from others makes me wonder if the move is even worth it. The term instant messaging is pretty obvious in it's meaning, but it's pointless if it's no longer actually instant...