Texting was still in its infancy as very few people actually owned mobile phones at that point.
Messenger and Microsoft’s MSN Messenger.
Needless to say, AOL was not thrilled.
Microsoft countered with an update that made MSN Messenger Service self-identify as AIM.
Microsoft backed off, and instead ended up partnering with another major player.
Combined, it created the largest consumer IM community in the world with an estimated 275 million users.
For a while, it seemed as though Microsoft could do no wrong with its instant messaging software.
But as we all know, the best-laid plans of mice and men often go awry.
Windows Live Messenger 2009 RC saw Microsoft drop the custom sign-in sound feature.
This was around the same time Microsoftacquired Skype.
The advent of social media and mobile devices couldn’t be ignored either.
As sure as the wind blows, Microsoft startedphasing outWindows Live Messenger in April 2013.
We cover the most prominent areas of their history, innovations, successes and controversies.
