Except Messenger is a tiny little program with a small footprint and little impact on your PC while Skype is a bit bloated pile of... software.

Luckily it appears Skype's IM probably works with programs like Trillian so it won't be a total disaster for those not wanting Skype bloat.

Just as Bing is not simply a search engine, but is the search and sort tool that Microsoft is [dreaming of] implementing across its products .. so too is Skype now more platform than single product.

So long for one of the most iconic software ever created.

I have found memories of MSN messenger chats.

Nevertheless I gave it up as they kept on adding commercials everywhere and finally when gmail chat came up.

Skype is ok, but the interface, especially under Mac OS, sucks so much I can't get my mind around it !

Fix the Mac UI , please !

AIM has worked great for me for years and continues to....

Skype is spyware...

[torrentfreak.com ]

Additionally it's been confirmed that Microsoft can listen in to any calls on Skype now as well.

[businessinsider.com ]

Not that I'd use anything Microsoft except for 64 Bit XP until I find a decent Linux distro though for those stuck using Microsoft products you have been warned.

- John

It's sad that the old, secure, P2P encryption that Skype was known for is apparently gone. Secure audio/video chat is quickly disappearing.

Microsoft did spend a bundle on Skype only to leave it alone for the longest time. There is no need for them to maintain such similar products, so this makes sense.

i have used MS IM and it worked really great. But i know there are more better IM and Microsoft is facing the competition... well this is a good and bold step for them

I have found memories of MSN messenger chats

Me too. Happy days.

found memories

I have fond memories, too.

Not that I'd use anything Microsoft except for 64 Bit XP

That's silly because it's less stable and more vulnerable than Win 7 and far less compatible with current hardware. I've been programming Windows at both low and high level software since Win 2.x and Win 7 is without a doubt the best there's ever been.

Regardless, the Windows we knew is now gone with Win 8, so goes Messenger, and many other traditional MS brand Windows programs will probably follow suit as they attempt to adapt to the new paradigm.

Integration of Skype and Messenger is somewhat obvious and I think as MS tries to redefine itself as a mobile platform we're going to see more shifts in that direction and the old desktop is always going to be the loser in this transition.

The biggest problem I have with Skype and Windows 8 is that MS locks you to use one account only - whatever the windows admin account is you're logged in as. They merge the accounts.

short update on my previous post; it appears you can install skype as a desktop client too on win8, and that has no problems selecting any account you want to use, as opposed to the metro version that limits you to one account.

According to a report, [thenextweb.com] the service is officially being retired on March 15, 2013.

I guess that's plenty of time to get skype installed and running.