[Shlooky]

"Microsoft on Tuesday started mass emailing its 100 million+ Messenger users to let them know that the service is officially being retired on March 15, 2013. On that date, all users will be migrated to Skype, which Microsoft acquired back in May 2011 for $8.5 billion.

This means Messenger will be shut down in just 66 days. It will only keep working afterwards in mainland China, mainly because Skype is operated there by a local provider called TOM."
There's more in the article, here's the link...
Microsoft Migrating Messenger Users to Skype on March 15

Since Skype will not be an option on BB10, those who used the Microsoft messenger service will be out of luck. Me thinks anyway

[ovi08]

"Microsoft on Tuesday started mass emailing its 100 million+ Messenger users to let them know that the service is officially being retired on March 15, 2013. On that date, all users will be migrated to Skype, which Microsoft acquired back in May 2011 for $8.5 billion.

This means Messenger will be shut down in just 66 days. It will only keep working afterwards in mainland China, mainly because Skype is operated there by a local provider called TOM."
There's more in the article, here's the link...
Microsoft Migrating Messenger Users to Skype on March 15

Since Skype will not be an option on BB10, those who used the Microsoft messenger service will be out of luck. Me thinks anyway

The fact that Messenger will no longer be available is more assurance that BB10 will have Skype. Will it be there on launch, i don't know. But Skype will make it to BB10

[pantlesspenguin]

Wow that's crazy. That was one of the very first messengers I ever used, besides ICQ. End of an era.

[cjcampbell]

so quick question.... will Skype and MSN Messenger interact or is it one or the other? The reason I ask, is that for work, we use Messenger to communicate between offices and interoffice.

[jvictor77]

When you sign in to Skype with your Microsoft account - as opposed to your old one, Messenger contacts are supposed to merge with the Skype ones. Otherwise, it is just Skype.

[koroshiyax]

Does Skype support third-party clients like MSN does? i.e. pidgin etc...

[donmateo]

Wonder if this change will mess up my hotmail for a few days....Hmm...

[Bold_until_Hybrid_Comes]

Theres going to be a lot of people getting emails telling them MSN is no longer in use and they are going to think its spam/scam.

[jvictor77]

Does Skype support third-party clients like MSN does? i.e. pidgin etc...

The third party clients I have used all support Skype as chat - but not voice...

[web99]

I got the email today and I sent them the following reply

Date: Wed, Jan 9, 2013
To: The Messenger Team
Subject: Re: Important info about your Messenger account

I have a blackberry phone and a Playbook tablet.

Is there any plans to build a Skype version that will work on these devices?

Thanks

Xxxxxxxx
Sent from my BlackBerry device on the Rogers Wireless Network

[maxknux]

so quick question.... will Skype and MSN Messenger interact or is it one or the other? The reason I ask, is that for work, we use Messenger to communicate between offices and interoffice.

Quick Answer - Yes both can interact with each other if the person on Skype has linked Messenger account.

On March 15, 2013 - MSN Messenger will cease to exist and be blasted into a Black hole and Skype would become the main Messaging service of MSN. Currently there is no Skype BlackBerry Client. Also since messenger service will go down, it automatically means BlackBerry shuts down messenger client on March 15, 2013.

I don't know if RIM or Skype team will make a Client for BB OS7 but it seems like BB10 will most likely get the client first. So I guess you need to use some other Client. The other Clients are AIM, Google Talk, Yahoo Messenger, Facebook Messenger for you guys to talk between offices. Well you guys have till March 15 to figure that out.

There is Also BBM

[Superfly_FR]

so quick question.... will Skype and MSN Messenger interact or is it one or the other? The reason I ask, is that for work, we use Messenger to communicate between offices and interoffice.

So far I know :
- Skype is the brand banner for MS' IM. Live (messenger) is now the technology Skype is built on (no more P2P).
Short answer : Messenger (as its name) is virtually dead but this won't change much on the usage side.

[Hambone678]

Wow that's crazy. That was one of the very first messengers I ever used, besides ICQ. End of an era.

So true! How many relationships blossomed over MSN Messenger?

[m_warden1]

I got the email today and I sent them the following reply

Date: Wed, Jan 9, 2013
To: The Messenger Team
Subject: Re: Important info about your Messenger account

I have a blackberry phone and a Playbook tablet.

Is there any plans to build a Skype version that will work on these devices?

Thanks

Xxxxxxxx
Sent from my BlackBerry device on the Rogers Wireless Network

Did you by chance get any reply from them?
I never even got this email