Bangalore: Finally the rumors of Microsoft’s intentions to rest Windows Live Messenger have come true. Skype will be replacing Microsoft’s dwindling instant messaging client according to Skype’s CEO Tony Bated who announced the news in a blog post.

Microsoft acquired Skype last year for a whopping $8.5 billion. Skype has a VoIP (voice over internet protocol) along with instant messaging, which was an advantage over Live Messenger. So Microsoft’s decision to make Skype a bigger player was eminent.       

With Skype 6.0, the Live Messenger users can move their contacts to Skype. Bates said that Live Messenger will be retired worldwide by the first quarter of 2013, except in mainland China.

The merger also showed Microsoft’s broader strategy to consolidate its services under a single Microsoft ID for users. Just like Zune and Hotmail gave way to Xbox and Outlook, Microsoft’s business messaging product Lync, that has already integrated with Skype, and Windows Live Messenger are all set to give way to Skype.  

Microsoft recently launched new Skype apps for Windows 7, Windows 8 and Windows Phone 8, projecting Skype as the lead player in general consumer communication service.

Live Messenger users will haveto adapt to the new transition Microsoft is planning with respect to communication over internet, and giving the old instant messaging pal to rest.