Microsoft finally decides to retire MSN Web Messenger

Microsoft finally decides to retire MSN Web MessengerThe software giant Microsoft has finally decided to retire MSN Web Messenger, the service founded by Sabeer Bhatia and Jack Smith. The service will be officially retired on Tuesday, June 30, 2009.

The official Windows Live team website has notified that the popular MSN Web Messenger will be retired, and it will be replaced by the already available new Windows Live Hotmail, operated as part of Microsoft’s Windows Live group.      

In its blog, the Windows Live team has written, "With new web-based instant messaging (IM) now available in Windows Live Hotmail worldwide, we are preparing to retire MSN Web Messenger. The old MSN Web Messenger experience will end on June 30, 2009."

Microsoft spokesperson has explained that the company is retiring MSN Web Messenger as part of its overall investment in updating and re-aligning its online services under the Windows Live brand.

The Windows Live Hotmail, screenshots of which began appearing in January this year, was eagerly awaited by users. The Windows Live Hotmail has been integrated with a group of Windows Live services. The new service provides easier and more convenient communication; the new service allows its users to check mails through Hotmail, chat with friends from their Hotmail inboxes or contact lists, without requiring going to MSN Web Messenger for doing that. The users can still contact with their Messenger friends by into Messenger from the Windows Live People page.

The Windows Live Hotmail is big improvement over MSN Web Messenger. The new service lets a user know – if a user is online; if an email sender is in contact list – the e-mails will show a little status icon, which a user can click to start conversation. The new service also offers multiple location support.