Windows Live Messanger

Windows Live Messenger is an instant messaging program for Windows XP Windows Vista Windows 7 Windows Server 2003, Windows Server 2008 and Windows Mobile. Is a successor of the MSN Messenger program and it is released under a new name Microsoft company on December 13, 2005. Is one of components Windows Live — a set of network services from Microsoft.

The client is connected to Microsoft .NET Messenger Service. Corporations can also integrate own Live Communication Server and the Active Directory into working network for the clients. The main clients with multiprotocols can be also connected to service.

Competitors

The most important competitors of Windows Live Messenger are AIM and ICQ, Skype, Trillian, iChat, Adium X, aMSN and clients on the basis of Jabber, including Google Talk.

See Also: Messengers (Instant Messenger, IM)

In China the service of instant messaging of QQ prevails. Though its use outside China is minimum, internal use reaches 226 million users. [the source is not specified 380 days] However, with recent entry of MSN Messenger into the Chinese market, popularity of QQ considerably decreased. Now MSN Messenger occupies about 17% of the Chinese market of instant messaging.

In Mexico Framecode was one of the most popular clients for message exchange, however since recent time fell into oblivion.

Gadu-Gadu remains the most popular service of exchange of messages in Poland, more than with 6 million users in network daily. However, since nedavny time she slowly gives way to Skype.

Microsoft will kill "ICQ"

In January, 2013 Microsoft announced plans for closing of the Windows Live Messanger instant messenger. Clients of IM service it is going to switch to use of Skype which was purchased by corporation in October, 2011.

From this time the corporation started specific actions - to informing users of Live Messenger on its planned closing though the decision was made in November, 2012. For most of users will become on March 15, 2013 last afternoon of work of the messenger.

The exception will make only China where, according to the official statement of Microsoft, Windows Live Messenger will continue work without any changes. After the Skype installation on the PC of those users of the IM client where it was not set earlier, it will be possible to come into new service using the existing account Messenger ID. Besides, complete synchronization of base of contacts will be automatically made: all of them will appear in the contact list Skype.

In quality of training to closing of IM service, in October, 2012 Skype started testing of new betas for Windows and Mac which allow to enter into service using Messenger ID and to see the users using services Live Messenger, Xbox, Hotmail and Outlook.com. It is reported also that the user of Messenger in Skype the full range of opportunities will be available: not only message exchange, but also video, voice chats and other functions.