Microsoft announced some time ago that they intended on shutting down their Messenger instant messaging service and has been pushing users towards Skype for some time now.
They've now clarified that the first users will be cut off on March 15th. This initial block of users, representing approximately one percent of their entire user base, will be disconnected for test purposes with mass disconnections commencing first, in English speaking countries, on April 8th.
It is anticipated that the entire process will be completed by April 30th.
Mobile users however and users that access the service through third parties will have a slightly longer reprieve although third party APIs will eventually be shut down also.
After that it's R.I.P. Messenger!
