<p>Messenger, you had a good run. But nothing lasts forever. On April 8, 2013, Microsoft will begin a phased end-of-life migration for an instant messaging (IM) application that is still used by hundreds of millions of people. Fortunately, these customers won't be left hanging with no one to chat with online. Microsoft is moving them to Skype.</p><p>Microsoft has been warning Messenger customers about the change for weeks. Indeed, I've received several email messages about the Messenger-to-Skype conversion in recent days. According to the messages, the process is simple enough: Just download Skype and sign in to the app with your Messenger ID (now called a Microsoft account). And if you click on the Upgrade link within Messenger, it will even automatically uninstall Windows Live Messenger for you, so there's no confusion.</p><p>Related: "2013 Promises to Be a Big Year for Lync"</p><p>Back in January, I tested this migration ahead of the hard stop so that I could evaluate where theory and reality diverged. And at the time, there were all kinds of problems, including missing contacts and a strange condition in which my own contacts didn't know I was online. I had to go backtemporarilyto Windows Live Messenger.</p><p><a href="http://windowsitpro.com/cloud/windows-live-messenger-rip">Keep reading...</a></p><p>Read also:</p><p><a href="http://www.zdnet.com/countdown-clock-microsoft-marches-toward-its-messenger-phase-out-7000013347/">Countdown clock: Microsoft marches toward its Messenger phase-out</a> (ZDNet)</p><p><a href="http://www.insidermonkey.com/blog/microsoft-corporation-msft-messenger-your-days-are-numbered-103360/">Microsoft Corporation (MSFT) Messenger, Your Days are Numbered</a> (Insider Monkey (blog))</p><p><a href="http://www.liveside.net/2013/04/01/messenger-phases-out-skype-updates-and-messaging-on-microsoft-is-still-a-bit-of-a-mess/">Messenger phases out, Skype updates, and messaging on Microsoft is still a bit ...</a> (LiveSide)</p><p>Explore: <a href="http://news.google.com/news/more?ncl=dJAi9aoYgETMO8MvvF_AXE89f1FsM&ned=us">20 additional articles.</a></p>