More than 12 years ago we released the first version of Messenger to help people chat and keep in touch online in a more personal way. One of the unique things about IM and Messenger in particular is that it has always been about the network of people far more than any one “app.” Almost every one of us joined the Messenger network to be with the people who were on the network – to chat, share stories, laugh, gossip, and just be together. Messenger enabled each of us to communicate and share with the people we care about.
A lot has changed for IM and Messenger. We started to text more on our phones, to broadcast messages on Facebook and Twitter, and Skype became the best way to have video and voice calls (in addition to also letting you IM).
Recently, we added the ability to sign in to Skype using a Microsoft account, the same account you use for Messenger, Hotmail, Outlook.com, and more, bringing your contacts to Skype automatically. This makes Skype fantastic for connecting with that network of people you know and love.
Today, we’ve announced on the Skype blog that we are now encouraging all Messenger users to update by downloading the latest version of Skype. In the coming months, we will retire the Messenger apps for all regions worldwide except for mainland China.
Many of us use and love Messenger today – but it’s always been about the people that make up Messenger – not the app itself. We’re confident that Skype provides a better experience and even stronger network – today and even more so in the future, especially with the addition of the Messenger network.
And most importantly, because more of the people you care about will be on Skype, you can connect in richer ways, and you can be connected on more devices and platforms. We will enable Skype to work better with Outlook.com than Messenger ever has too.
Chris Jones laid out our plans for reimagining cloud services for Windows and Windows Phone in May. Since then we’ve made major updates to SkyDrive, released Outlook.com, Windows 8, the new Office, and Windows Phone 8 – all powered by a single Microsoft account – and today, we've announced the future for Messenger and Skype.
This will be the final post on “Inside Windows Live.” It’s been quite a journey, and we’re excited about a future of amazing devices and services!
Brian Hall
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