Editing Microsoft Messenger service (section)

{{Short description|Instant messaging service}}
{{about|an instant messaging service over the Internet|Windows' local service|Windows Messenger service}}
{{more citations needed|date=December 2014}}
{{Use American English|date=January 2023}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2023}}
'''Messenger''' (formerly '''MSN Messenger Service''',<ref name="microsoft.com">{{Cite web |title=Microsoft Launches MSN Messenger Service |url=https://news.microsoft.com/1999/07/21/microsoft-launches-msn-messenger-service/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150326091908if_/http://news.microsoft.com/1999/07/21/microsoft-launches-msn-messenger-service/ |archive-date=2015-03-26 |website=Microsoft|date=1999-07-21}}</ref> '''.NET Messenger Service''' and '''Windows Live Messenger Service''') was an [[instant messaging]] and [[Presence information|presence]] system developed by [[Microsoft]] in 1999 for use with its [[Windows Live Messenger#MSN Messenger 1.0–7.5 (July 1999 – August 2005)|MSN Messenger]] software. It was used by [[Comparison of cross-platform instant messaging clients|instant messaging clients]] including [[Windows 8]], [[Windows Live Messenger]], [[Microsoft Messenger for Mac]], [[Outlook.com]] and [[Xbox Live]]. Third-party clients also connected to the service. It communicated using the [[Microsoft Notification Protocol]], a proprietary instant messaging [[Communication protocol|protocol]]. The service allowed anyone with a [[Microsoft account]] to sign in and communicate in real time with other people who were signed in as well.

On January 11, 2013, Microsoft announced that they were retiring the existing Messenger service globally (except for mainland China where Messenger will continue to be available) and replacing it with Skype.<ref name="microsoft.com"/> In April 2013, Microsoft merged the service into [[Skype]]; existing users were able to sign into Skype with their existing accounts and access their contact list. As part of the merger, Skype's instant messaging functionality is now running on the backbone of the former Messenger service.<ref name="microsoft.com" />