There's going to be no more MSN in the near future

[Tef]

Source: http://www.opposingviews.com/i/technology/windows-live-messenger-eclipsed-skype

MSN Messenger's Popularity Now Declining

Earlier this year MSN Messenger was reportedly handling more instant messages than any other service. However, its popularity has been declining as people make more use of Skype, recently acquired by Microsoft.

To those on my MSN list - please send me a message or PM if you'd still like to be on my list.
^ This is the best strategy that I may have given the circumstances at hand. Thankfully, I use both MSN and Skype, Skype albeit to a lesser extent.

Oh well.

[Temrin]

I never cared for the recent version of msn. So i'm cool with this. I use skype but its a private account. I used msn for larger lists so i guess now i have to figure something out. eh. i'll deal with it when it comes.

[Acco]

You just log in with your Microsoft account in Skype 6. Don't even worry about the transition, it'll deal with itself if you're already using Skype.

[Tonk]

I'm not huge on this because I've never been able to stand the look/feel/layout of Skype. But I guess it's a good thing since most people have already changed to it.

[Kirkus]

Yeah I've been trying to orient myself to it over the last couple of weeks just to get it over with, band-aid style. So far it's been pretty irritating on the PC what with that crappy-ass interface, but they've been doing really well with updating the Android version of Skype lately. Now you can sign in with your Microsoft Account on mobile and the interface on it is pretty crisp. It might be that first ray of light after losing Live Messenger!

[zenia]

:C I still want to have MSN. I use that account only to talk to my sister with. I have a Skype account... but that one is for furries to add me and I only login when I want to chat. I don't wanna condense to one IM program. I hate Skypes layouts.

[Troubles]

I preferred the customization of MSN messenger but I find that Skype seems to be a more reliable program in general.  :popcorn:

[Tayga]

MSN? oh right i rarely used it because pidgin/digsby are better  :gay:
p.s. try pidgin first digsby is more messy

[orwin]

No Skype client for Blackberry...hello?  Microsoft?

I've been slowly moving more towards GoogleTalk.

[Hunter]

MSN is moving to skype

So i -think- you can log into skype with your old msn accuont.

[ravewoif]

Funny how I only started using MSN again a week ago XD

[Acco]

Trillian actually has a pretty good post on what's going to happen to the MSN/WLM protocol over this coming year.

http://blog.trillian.im/?p=2684

tl;dr:

1) Official client will be shut off from accessing WLM/MSN network in a few months.
2) Unofficial (trillian, pidgin, etc) clients will be shut off from accessing WLM/MSN network by the end of the year (at latest, probably earlier).
3) There is no real information on what is going to happen with the WLM/MSN -> skype transition for the end user, other than it will happen. This may be just a matter of "upgrading/migrating" everybody's WLM/MSN accounts to skype ones, and then matching the contacts to updated/migrated skype accounts. Or it might be something else. This is pure speculation.

Hope this clears up any confusion.

[Alloud]

3) There is no real information on what is going to happen with the WLM/MSN -> skype transition for the end user, other than it will happen. This may be just a matter of "upgrading/migrating" everybody's WLM/MSN accounts to skype ones, and then matching the contacts to updated/migrated skype accounts. Or it might be something else. This is pure speculation.

Microsoft sent out an e-mail to everyone about this. You can link your MSN/WLM account to your current Skype one, migrating your contacts with it (as I've done), or just log in to Skype with your WLM/MSN and it will become your Skype log-in.

http://www.wpcentral.com/messenger-users-it-s-time-update-skype

[Acco]

Microsoft sent out an e-mail to everyone about this. You can link your MSN/WLM account to your current Skype one, migrating your contacts with it (as I've done), or just log in to Skype with your WLM/MSN and it will become your Skype log-in.

http://www.wpcentral.com/messenger-users-it-s-time-update-skype

I'm talking about how the backend will end up working. Cause the microsoft account ends up being a "dummy" account with 2 services associated - skype and WLM/MSN. :) This point is more important to people using third-party clients. Nobody knows how you'll be able to access the network, given that the skypekit api isn't updated for microsoft account logins, and wlm/msn is being retired.