Windows Messenger is a client by Microsoft that is included in the Windows XP operating system. Designed for use by corporate users as well as home users, it was originally created as a streamlined and integrated version of MSN Messenger. After its initial release in 2001, it was later upgraded in 2004, when it was made available for Windows 2000 and Windows Server 2003.
Since then, development on Windows Messenger has stopped, with the exception of security updates. It has been superseded by Microsoft's similarly named but separate and newer client, Windows Live Messenger, for connections to the Microsoft Messenger service, and by Microsoft Lync (formerly Microsoft Office Communicator) in corporate environments.
The client is not related to the Windows Messenger service, a Windows service for Windows NT, which was designed for local area networks (LAN).
Microsoft has announced It intends to close down its Windows Live Messenger in 2013 and is urging users to switch over to its Skype chat software.
Read more about Windows Messenger: Overview
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