Microsoft Windows Live Messenger service will be discontinued from March 15, 2013 – the tech giant confirmed in an email it sent out to its 100 million+ Messenger users on Tuesday, The Next Web reports. Post that date, all Messenger users will be migrated to Skype. It was in November this year that Skype declared in an official blog post that Microsoft was phasing out Messenger and had started migrating contacts to Skype. At the time, Tony Bates, President – Skype division, Microsoft, revealed that the move would happen in the first quarter of 2013. He said so without giving out a clear date.

Microsoft sent out an email to its expansive Messenger user base titled, “Important info about your Messenger account” on Tuesday. An important section of the mail reads:

On 15th March 2013 we are retiring the existing Messenger service globally (except for mainland China where Messenger will continue to be available) and bringing the great features of Messenger and Skype together. Update to Skype and sign in using a Microsoft Account (same as your Messenger ID) and all your Messenger contacts will be at your fingertips. You’ll be able to instant message and video chat with them just like before, and also discover new ways of staying in touch with Skype on your mobile and tablet.

After Microsoft acquired Skype in May 2011 for $8.5 billion, we all knew that the tech giant had big plans for the world’s most popular VoIP service. Skype had elaborated that Messenger users will be able to reach their Messenger friends on Skype. Messenger users will have the ability to instant message (IM) and video-call their contacts by updating to Skype.

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