14 DAY TRIAL // Microsoft confirmed yesterday that Windows Live Messenger would go offline on March 15 but, unsurprisingly, many of its users are outraged by this decision.
While China will remain the only country on the globe to still have WLM, the rest of the world will have no other choice than to move to Microsoft’s VoIP platform and its integrated Messenger.
Most users have decided to express their frustration with this decision on the Skype community forums, especially because the transition had turned into a very painful process due to a bug that removes contact lists.
“Do you think there's a snowball's chance I would subscribe to Office 365, given this mess? I am cancelling my X-box Live account when it comes due for renewal next month over this. There is now absolutely no chance I will ever recommend a Microsoft Cloud service over the competition. See you in the Cloud Microsoft,” one of the affected users explained.
“This is a REALLY ANNOYING situation going on for over a month now! Never saw such a lame support from a company. But okay it’s Microsoft now... So works as expected,” another one added.
Microsoft has started sending emails to registered Windows Live Messenger users in order to inform them that its instant messaging solution would be discontinued in mid-March.
Users who won’t abandon Windows Live Messenger till March 15 will be provided with a notification message whenever they try to sign in. If they continue, they will be directed to download and install Skype, Microsoft said.
“On 15th March 2013 we are retiring the existing Messenger service globally (except for mainland China where Messenger will continue to be available) and bringing the great features of Messenger and Skype together,” the company noted in the email sent to Windows Live Messenger registered users.