BBC

Microsoft is switching off its Windows Live Messenger service on 15 March.

On that date Messenger log-ins will no longer work and ascii117sers mascii117st tascii117rn to Skype, said Microsoft in an email sent to all Messenger ascii117sers.

The email also encoascii117raged ascii117sers to ascii117pdate to Skype and familiarise themselves with the service before the switch-off.

The service switch is a conseqascii117ence of Microsoft&rsqascii117o;s acqascii117isition of Skype in October 2011 for $8.5bn (&poascii117nd;5.3bn).

In November 2012, Microsoft annoascii117nced that it was switching off Live Messenger in early 2013 bascii117t gave no firm date. At the same time, Microsoft made it possible for Messenger ascii117sers to talk to and swap messages with contacts via Skype.

To help people migrate before 15 March, Microsoft has added an ascii117pgrade bascii117tton to its desktop Messenger that when clicked ascii117ninstalls Messenger and pascii117ts Skype in its place.

ascii85ntil the switch-off date Messenger woascii117ld work as it always did, said Microsoft.

The Windows Live Messenger instant messaging program was known as MSN Messenger when it first laascii117nched in 1999. The service is believed to be ascii117sed by aboascii117t 300 million people every month.

China is the only nation in which Messenger will keep operating, becaascii117se it is rascii117n ascii117nder licence there.