<http://schema.org/articleBody>
"Starting today, Windows Live Messenger users can talk to their contacts using Skype.\nThis integration comes just a day after reports that Microsoft is retiring Windows Live Messenger in favor of Skype hit the web.\nA blog post from Skype president Tony Bates confirms that Messenger will be retired in all countries except for China in the first quarter of 2013.\nThe underpinnings for a Windows Messenger/Skype marriage started with October's release of Skype 6.0 for Mac and Windows. With Skype 6, users can opt to sign in to their Skype accounts with a Microsoft ID.\nUsers can now log into Skype with their Live Messenger ID and, if they choose, merge the account with an existing Skype account.\n\nSEE ALSO: Skype for Windows 8 Is Full of Win [REVIEW]\nWhile we think that a Skype/Messenger merger makes a lot of sense, it still leaves some unanswered questions. For instance, what will happen to third-party clients that use the Microsoft Messenger protocol? Moreover, will these changes also extend to the Xbox Messenger service, or will they remain distinct? \nWhat do you think of the new Live Messenger integration with Skype? Are you happy about using Skype for your messaging needs? Let us know in the comments."^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
<http://mashable.com/2012/11/06/windows-messenger-skype-merge/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Mashable+%28Mashable%29>