Boston, MA 08/29/2014 (wallstreetpr) – Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) announced that it would officially end its instant messaging service known as MSN Messenger, or Windows Live Messenger in October. The company already shifted many users of the messaging app to Skype, but MSN Messenger retained a stronghold in China. However, even China will have to shift to Skype after October 31, which is the date that the company said MSN Messenger will be no more.
MSN Messenger has been around for 15 years, and it underwent a number of changes or even improvements in the years of its life. It was a service that also put Microsoft at loggerheads with AOL, which had AIM service that also offered instant messaging for users, and they dominated the market in their heydays. In fact, Microsoft tweaked its messaging service that users could chat with those on AOL’s AIM.
Promoting Skype
In moving to end the life of MSN Messenger, Microsoft is keen on building Skype as a major force in the online chat market. The service is already popular and bringing more users from the soon-defunct MSN Messenger would be a shot in the arm for Skype and Microsoft at large.
Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) is doing so much these days to boost its financial performance that has been battered by the decline in PC sales, a segment that was responsible for its wealth in the past years. It is combining both hardware and software approach to creating value for the shareholders. The company earlier this year sealed a deal to acquire the handset business of Nokia Corporation (ADR) (NYSE:NOK) for about $7.4 billion.
Boosting hardware segment
It is also pushing forward with its tablet offering. In a recent move to get its Surface devices into more hands, Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) announced a limited discount of $100 on each Surface 2 device. Such moves are aimed at helping the company gain popularity against rivals such as Apple Inc (NASDAQ:AAPL) that are already dominating the tablet and phone market.
