Microsoft bought Skype last year. As you have noticed, since that time Microsoft has been trying to integrate the VoIP juggernaut into existing Microsoft services. The latest casualty of the Skype purchase? Windows Live Messenger, or MSN Messenger as it was formerly known for a very long time.

Sourcing “several sources”, The Verge is reporting that Microsoft is in the process of retiring Windows Live Messenger and integrating it into Skype. The announcement isn’t official, yet, so we can’t say for sure that this will happen. However, it would make sense if you consider how closely Skype is integrated with Windows 8, Microsoft’s latest operating system.

It isn’t entirely clear how this will happen, if it indeed does happen. More likely than not, all Windows Live Messenger accounts and contacts will be ported to Skype and you should, ideally, be able to continue your Windows Live conversations on Skype without any hiccups. However, anyone that has used Skype for IM knows it isn’t the best instant messaging service out there so only time will tell how successful this is.

Feel free to chime in the comments below about this new development.

[via The Verge, image via ssoosay]