Microsoft Details Transition From Messenger To Skype

Back in November, Microsoft announced that it would be shutting down its Messenger service and would migrate all of its users to Skype instead. Microsoft acquired Skype in 2011, and it looks like the Redmond-based company is taking advantage of purchase. Today, Microsoft detailed how it will be transitioning its millions of users over the Skype.

Microsoft is planning begin the upgrade process from Messenger to Skype on April 8, and the process is expected to take a few weeks to complete. The company will start with English-speaking users, and will then move onto its Brazilian Portuguese users on April 30 or later. By then, Microsoft says all its users should be good to go.

Back in January, Microsoft sent a mass email to all of its Messenger users, noting that beginning on March 15, Microsoft will begin to discontinue Messenger for a "test group" comprising a small handful of the "tens of millions" of users. Then come April 8, a full transition will begin for all users.

The phase out for Messenger is only for the desktop version, as it represents the majority of Messenger users. However, Skype execs have not provided a timetable as to when Microsoft plans to retire the Messenger service on mobile platforms, but it'll probably only be a matter of time before the company gets around to that.