Rest In Peace: MSN Messenger

Published: September 8, 2014 11:00 AM /

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MSN Messenger

Windows Live Messenger formerly (and better known as) MSN Messenger will have its final plugged pulled on October 31st, 2014. To most people MSN Messenger already died March 15th 2013 but the last hold out for the service has been mainland China. The closing of the service is a result of Microsoft acquiring Skype on October 13th ,2011 and furthering their goals of promotions and integration with Skype instead of MSN Messenger.

MSN Messenger was launched in 1999 to hopefully gain market-share against competitors including AIM and ICQ. MSN Messenger was part of the modern, GUI based, group of chat clients that would define the popular concept of instant messaging. MSN Messenger and it's peers provided the opportunity for users to experience social connections before social media sites like Myspace and Facebook were widely popular. However by 2010, traditional instant messaging services would have to take the backseat to technologies such as social media integrated messaging, texting, and smart phone apps. If you are feeling nostalgic, MSN Messenger is survived by AIM, ICQ, and Yahoo! Messenger.

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John Rozger has a BA in Computer Science and is a fledgling software and video game developer. As a lifelong gamer he enjoys writing about the gaming… More about John