On March 15, Microsoft will be retiring Windows Messenger Live and is replacing it with Skype, which Microsoft purchased in 2011.  When users update their Skype account and sign in using their Window’s Live credentials, all messenger contacts should be available for instant message, video calls, land-line calls, screen sharing and video calls on mobile phones.

To further enhance usability, Skype has just released an update that allows integration with Outlook 2010 and 2013 offering the ability to initiate a video call or instant message from within Outlook. Even if the contact doesn’t have Skype installed you can still connect via a phone call using your Skype account.  To initiate a connection via Outlook, hover over the contact’s name and a contact card will appear offering the option to connect via phone call, instant message, video chat, schedule an appointment and more.

Unfortunately there are a few useful features that are no longer options with the new Skype integration.  Skype does not allow free SMS (text to smartphones), users will no longer be able to send pictures via instant messenger to non-Skype users and chat history will go away when you make the switch.

For those of us who used Instant Messenger in earlier times before the advent of more sophisticated online social tools, this marks the end of an era but with IM users dwindling from more than 300 million users in 2010 to 100+ million today it was only a matter of time before Microsoft made the decision to “pull the plug”.

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