Microsoft Live Messenger – MSN: closure in favor of Skype

Time for cuts and news for fans of Microsoft’s messaging servicesMicrosoft: the company – according to what was anticipated by the staff ofThe Verge – would have decided to bet everything, in this sector, on the newly acquired serviceSkype, thus going toclose Microsoft Live Messenger.
The oldMSN, the first large-scale instant messaging system, was transformed in recent years into “Microsoft Live Messenger“, without actually undergoing major substantial transformations compared to the early functionalities.
Moreover, the system has admirably met the communication needs of thousands of people for many years, although it eventually had to contend with a decline in interest, mostly due to the advent of new services (GTalk for example) and new sharing platforms, first and foremost the more than boomingFacebook.
Theacquisition of Skype by Microsoft has, however, led to a streamlining and internal re-configuration of this specific area, since the two programs are after all quite similar, at least in terms of basic user intentions.
For this reason and given the investment in favor of the acquisition of Skype, Microsoft would soon completely closeMicrosoft Live Messenger, thus providing the possibility to “convert” old MSN accounts to new Skype accounts.

Probably it will be possible to opt for the use of theSkypecredentials already in use, if you are already a user of the service.
The transition methods from one service to another are not yet clear, however: we are talking about rumors as there is still no official confirmation from the Redmond headquarters.
Moreover, the fact that the new operating system Windows 8 has a rather high-performing app entirely dedicated toSkypesays a lot about the probability that investments are heading in this direction, although it seems that Live Messenger will still remain, as far as the technical platform structure is concerned.
The official announcement could arrive any day now, with a gradual shutdown occurring over the next few months.

UPDATE: the news has been confirmed by Microsoft: by early 2013 the Live Messenger service will merge into Skype.