What began many years ago as Microsoft Messenger and evolved into Windows Live Messenger (or simply, WLM) is now being put to rest. Microsoft has officially announced that Skype will now officially replace Messenger for instant messaging, audio and video calling. As of sometime in the first quarter of 2013, WLM will be shuttered and no longer functional — unless you happen to be located in mainland China (where Skype is verboten, so to speak).
Microsoft purchased Skype in October of 2011 for $8.5 billion, and the consolidation has been anticipated by many. Both Skype and Windows Live Messenger share many of the same features, including instant messaging, and voice- and video-calling. The advantage Skype offers is a clear path to monetization, particularly for expanded features like a dedicated phone number to accept incoming calls, voice mail, and international calling plans.
But what really tilted the scale in favor of Skype is the broad device support. Skype is available on just about anything you can connect to the Internet — Windows, for sure, but Macs, iPhones, iPads, iPod Touch, Android, and other devices.
What’s the impact to you?
If you use Windows Live Messenger (or Microsoft Messenger on a Mac), prepare to transition to Skype. Sometime during the first quarter of 2013, your WLM program will no longer connect.
Download and install the latest version of Skype and you’ll see an option to login using your Microsoft account. Use this, not your Skype account.
Next, you’ll be prompted to sign in to your Microsoft account. Use your Windows Live Messenger login information.
Now you have a choice. If you’re already using Skype, you can sync your contacts with an existing Skype account. If you haven’t used Skype yet, first crawl out from under that rock you’ve been hiding under, then select New to Skype. You could also use the “New…” link if you simply don’t want to merge your WLM and your existing Skype accounts.
In my case, I had two Skype accounts, and had to choose one of them to merge my WLM contacts into.
Once you’ve logged into your Skype account, you’re given one last chance to either confirm or cancel the merge. Note that once you’ve merged the accounts, you cannot “unmerge” them.
Once the merge is complete, you’ll see a new Messenger contacts group. Curiously, mine is empty. Hmmm…
Once your accounts are merged, you now sign into Skype using your Microsoft account information (username and password) and not your old Skype account info.
This is where it gets a little screwy. For me, I was unable to sign in to Skype on my iPhone or iPad using my Microsoft account, but my old Skype account info was still working.
On top of that, while my Skype and Facebook contacts were still showing up, my Windows Live Messenger contacts (and the new group) have gone AWOL. Just for kicks, I signed into Microsoft Messenger on my MacBook Pro and it signed me out of Skype. But in Messenger, it shows zero contacts.
Now it’s entirely possible that I didn’t have any contacts in WLM under that account. I haven’t used WLM in ages, and it’s not critical either way. Are there any brave WLM & Skype users out there who want to test this merge process and let me know if it works correctly for them? Leave a comment and let me know!
I haven’t used WLM in a while and Skype has been there for a long time for me. I thought MS was going to ruin it after they acquire it but so far it’s been good. Good to know Windows messenger is going away.
Oscar, did you have a chance to test the migration of WLM contacts with Skype? Or do whatever WLM contacts you have (had?) are no longer important or worth migrating?
Goodness! I remember migrating from AOL to Hotmail and the original Messenger service. How far we have come!
Skype has really done a great job providing anywhere/anytime/any device connection capabilities. I found it particularly helpful when traveling in the islands. Cell phone minutes were outrageously expensive, but Skype over IP proved to be a valuable substitute and quite easy to use.
I haven’t used MSN/WLM is years, now. So no need to migrate anyone. Wondering if they will place nice nice with Google chat?
I consolidated my accounts today– I use WLM regularly. Everything looked fine through the Skype website, but my local client continued to only show me my Skype contacts, not WLM.
I disconnected and re-authenticated via win7 Skype client with my Microsoft account and finally my WLM contacts appeared. However they appear to come in without the grouping I had defined in WLM, so it looks like I’m going to have to spend some time re-organizing.
On my Surface RT, the Skype client just automatically had all of my contacts (WLM and Skype), even though my old Skype account was what I had it configured for authentication (NOT my Microsoft account). Now that’s confusing, but my Win8RT login account is the same Microsoft account, so maybe it decided to use it once I linked it to Skype? Inconsistent.
Well, I’m glad that I never started using Live Messenger then! One less thing to worry about in my long list of technologies and communications tools.
Jeff, I haven’t used it in so long I wouldn’t bother. It isn’t important to me since I migrated most of my friends over to other platforms a long time ago.
I have the MSN / WLM loved, created over 100 skins for Windows Live Messenger that were still TIMES where I had more visitors than Facebook: D But through Facebook Messenger are all almost extinct and Skype will make much longer.
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I just wanted to express my sincere thanks for your wonderful content.
Your eloquent and thought-provoking insights always inspire and resonate with me.
Keep up the great work – I eagerly await your next piece! By the way, I would be very happy if you get a chance to check out my page!
I totally get what you mean. I was worried about the same thing when Microsoft acquired Skype, but they’ve done a decent job with it. Still, it’s hard to say goodbye to Messenger after all these years