2012年11月,微软曾宣布2013年第一季度将会在全球范围内用Skype替换Windows Live Messenger(MSN),中国大陆除外。
Microsoft on Wednesday announced that its
instant messaging service Messenger will be officially shut down on
March 15, reminding users to move to Skype, the real-time Internet
communication service it bought in 2011.
In an email to users titled "Important info about your Messenger
account," Microsoft said Messenger's more than 100 million users can
migrate to Skype by signing in with their Microsoft accounts and enjoy
features like instant messaging, video calling on cell phones and screen
sharing.
Microsoft acquired the VoIP (voice over Internet Protocol) service Skype
in May 2011 for 8.5 billion U.S. dollars and planned to gradually merge
it into its every product, like Xbox and Windows Phone.
Last November, the software giant announced it will move Messenger's
users to Skype in the first quarter of 2013 with the exception of
Chinese mainland where Messenger will continue to be available.
Microsoft's Messenger service is often referred as "MSN" as it was first launched as "MSN messenger" in 1999.
In June 2009, on the 10th anniversary of Messenger's release, Microsoft
said the service attracted over 330 million active users each month
worldwide.