Microsoft is killing its old web-based instant messaging client under the MSN umbrella in favor of the Cloud version of Windows Live Messenger. According to the Redmond company, the last day of June will be synonymous with the death of MSN Web Messenger. For the software giant the move is nothing short of smart housecleaning. MSN Web Messenger and the new web-based Windows Live Messenger were two overlapping services that essentially performed the same role. In this manner, the Internet version of the company's MSN Messenger follows the same path of the instant messaging client, which was killed off to breathe life into Windows Live Messenger.

“With new web-based instant messaging (IM) now available from Windows Live Hotmail worldwide, we are preparing to retire MSN Web Messenger. The old MSN Web Messenger experience will end on June 30, 2009,” a member of the Windows Live team stated.

While MSN Web Messenger will no longer be available in just a couple of days, users have the new version of Messenger on the web at their disposal. The best place to access the Cloud flavor of Windows Live Messenger is through Microsoft's email service. In Windows Live Hotmail, in the upper right hand side corner, next to Options, the service offers the new web-based IM, based on Windows Live Messenger.

“With Hotmail’s new web-based IM, you can chat from your Hotmail inbox or contact list, instead of going to MSN Web Messenger. Go directly to the Windows Live People page (also known as “your contact list”) at People Live and sign into Messenger to continue instant messaging on the web with your Messenger friends. Instant messaging from Hotmail makes it easier to communicate and share in new ways in comparison to MSN Web Messenger,” the Windows Live representative added.