US-based software giant Microsoft said on January 9, 2013, that it will take back its Messenger online chat feature on March 15, 2013. The company also said that it will replace the service with the Skype internet telephony service which it bought in 2012.
Microsoft also conveyed a message to its subscribers through an email and advised its Messenger users to update to Skype by using their regular account information before the deadline. The company said in a message, “You’ll be able to instant message and video chat…just like before, and also discover new ways of staying in touch with Skype on your mobile and tablet”.
Washington-based technology company Redmond, in the month of November 2012, announced that it will shut down its messenger in favor of merging its users into Skype. The latest transition began in 2012 after the Skype 6.0 software was released. The software allows people to sign into the online communication service using Microsoft accounts.
The features of Skype include video calls and ability to call mobile phones from computers, as well as being able to connect with people on leading social networking site Facebook. The users of Skype can also make low-cost calls and free calls over the internet with the help of their computers or smartphones.
