Microsoft's most popular instant messaging software products. Microsoft started to phase out MSN Messenger (also known as Windows Live Messenger) globally in April 2013 and it will be completely shut down on October 31st. MSN Messenger is only available in mainland China until then. In an e-mail about the changes, Microsoft suggested that users switch to Skype. As an incentive to join Skype, Microsoft is offering a free $2 credit to users that make the switch.
Microsoft launched MSN Messenger in 1999 as a competitor to AOL Instant Messenger (AIM) and ICQ. MSN Messenger supported access to AIM, but America Online tried continuously to block Microsoft. As MSN Messenger grew in popularity, additional features were created like custom emoticons, games and a nudge feature that shakes the chat window. In 2005, Microsoft rebranded MSN Messenger to Windows Live Messenger. As of five years ago, Windows Live Messenger had over 330 million active users each month.

MSN Messenger was maintained in China through a partnership with Chinese media company TOM Group. The joint venture ended last year due to a dispute between TOM Group and Skype over the new users acquired by Skype during its 9 year history in China. Many people feel nostalgic about MSN Messenger shutting down, including myself. MSN Messenger was around before Gmail, MySpace, Facebook, WhatsApp, Snapchat, Twitter and Instagram. When MSN Messenger first launched, I had to use a 56k modem to log in to the service and hope that someone did not call the landline while I was chatting with my friends.