Microsoft is shutting down its popular MSN Messenger after 15 years of service, bringing to an end an era of chatting services, a niche now dominated by Internet-based messaging apps.
Launched in 1999, the instant messaging service was killed off for all countries except China in April 2013.
"We will retire Messenger in all countries worldwide in the first quarter of 2013 (with the exception of mainland China where Messenger will continue to be available)," revealed Tony Bates, President of the Microsoft's Skype division, via a blog post in Nov. 2012.
However, come Oct. 31, Microsoft will finally end all services for Windows Live Messenger in China as well.
Chinese users of the Windows Live Messenger were notified of the shutdown on Thursday, Aug. 28, via an email. However, the contact list would not vanish if the users migrated to Skype by Oct. 31, which would continue to offer support for Windows Live Messenger accounts. The email also informed MSN users that they would get a Skype coupon worth $2 for free. This coupon can be redeemed against international calls via Skype.
It is believed that the Microsoft move to kill MSN Messenger in China (which was launched in 2005) has been prompted by the growing popularity of rival chat service QQ from Tencent, a China-based firm.
The popular Windows Live Messenger or MSN Messenger, as it was known initially, heralded a new era with its IM functionality. MSN Messenger was launched by Microsoft to compete with AOL's Aim Service and ICQ.
With time, the service adapted itself to the growing needs of users and imbibed new features like video chat, games and photo messaging and emoji as it became popular.
The killing off of MSN Messenger will undoubtedly leave a vacuum in the overcrowded IM space. RIP MSN Messenger.
