Software giant Microsoft has finally set the record straight: Windows Live Messenger will be “retired†globally by March 15, while Messenger users will be “migrated†to the VoIP software application, Skype.
Early January of this year, Microsoft Corp. started mass emailing over 100 million Messenger users to inform them that while Messenger “will continue to work as [we] know it todayâ€, users will no longer be able to sign in, and will be encouraged to use Skype instead after the said date.Although last November, Skype Technologies president Tony Bates announced in a blog post that Messenger will be shut down by the first quarter of 2013, it still came as a slight shock for avid Messenger users. Microsoft also revealed the date just recently, barely 60 days before Messenger stops its operations.However, Messenger services will continue to be available only in mainland China after March 15. Skype’s operations in the world’s most populous country is facilitated by the local Chinese mobile Internet company and Skype’s majority joint venture partner, TOM Online.
Skype is a Voice over Internet Protocol or VoIP service and software app that allows users anywhere in the globe to make free voice and video calls and chats over the Internet. Users can also call traditional landline phones or mobile phones, but with a fee, using Skype credits.
Skype became popular among Internet users as an overall communication solution with advanced features such as instant messaging, file transfers, voicemail and videoconferencing. But the peer-to-peer VoIP software became such a big hit in the corporate community after introducing enterprise-oriented tools.
Indeed, most businesses are heading to mobile nowadays and Skype has made a huge effort to sync itself to phone services frombusiness VoIP providers like RingCentral or mobile VoIP providers like REVE Systems. There are also Skype versions for iPhones, Android phones and Blackberry, among many others.For instance, Skype’s TelyHD Business Edition allows businesses to facilitate multi-party video calls with a maximum of 10 participants and videoconferencing with up to 25 participants all at the same time. Meanwhile, Skype Manager enables business executives to manage their employees’ Skype accounts and monitor its usage centrally. Skype in the Workplace, on the other hand, can help businesses promote their products and services by sending out product/service info and promotional offers to current and prospective clients via instant messaging.
Microsoft’s preference for Skype and its decision to discontinue Messenger, however, is not entirely bolt from the blue. Skype simply has a larger membership than Microsoft’s aging instant messaging platform. In fact, Skype now has more than 663 million users worldwide, says BBC News. It also has about 280 million monthly active users, up by 100 million since the software giant bought it from international auction house, eBay Inc.
Recently, Skype has been recording one statistical milestone after the other: it currently holds the record for 45 million users who were online at the same time. In 2011, Skype-to-Skype minutes or total calls made via Skype reached 300 billion minutes.
Skype is also one of the most popularly downloaded apps in the world, totaling 3.2 billion downloads; not to mention an overall 70 million downloads for Google Android, the world’s number one mobile OS. Particular to the United States, Skype had at least 4.9 million daily active users during the second half of 2012.
Those who use both Skype and Messenger, as soon as opening their accounts, will be given the option to merge both accounts and automatically transfer their Messenger buddy list or contacts. Those who only have a Messenger account, however, need to download and install Skype instead.
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Tyrone Leopold is a freelance writer who’s had extensive experience in the Outreach Program. This time he brings his extensive Writing expertise to technology and business. The articles he posts will surely be informative and comprehensive especially for individuals who are in dire need of these resources. He writes to cater an impressive pool of different clients.
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