Skype likely to replace WLM? Possibly.

[Futz]

I hope no 'cause I use both of them for different things, skype to talk to people on mics/single people via text and WLM for the groups it has, me and my 7 friends still use WLM for group conversations and skype's layout etc is completely different and would look horrible with 8 people talking via text simultaneously, not many people have a big rl friends group though so nobody else really uses it like us

[peteyt]

I think it's more likely they kill off both and launch a merged service to go with all the other new metro stuff.

I'm not sure if that would be a good idea. The name you suggested is a lot simpler but why bother re-designing a whole brand when you can adapt a very popular one already - If it was failing fair enough but Skype is very popular and has recently been integrated to xbox if I am correct (I have a PS3)

ok not being funny but why is facebook being integrated into everything? it's a DYING BRAND already.... this should have been done 4 years ago, not now -.-

As far as I'm aware Facebook isn't dying. It's struggling to find ways to advertise as mobile phones have less space compared to desktops but I'm sure they'll find something.

I think the idea is quite a good one. I use both and rather than having both open having one program would work for me maybe with a newer design to signify the merger. Windows Live Messenger certainly is still used today but its impact is nothing compared to what it used to be. It certainly is dying slowly.

[redtom]

I think it's more likely they kill off both and launch a merged service to go with all the other new metro stuff.

Killing of Skype, one of the biggest internet brands would be an incredibly stupid idea. Having Skype as the default instant messaging service as a part of the Windows OS wouldn't be a bad idea at all.

Facebook, dying brand? How so?

Facebook isn't exactly a dying brand compared to the average but when you compare Facebook to itself you'll see its a sinking ship for anyone involved. Look at Yahoo for example, now it's laughed at as a search engine although probably very profitable and still a world leader in terms of major online brands/companies it is nothing compared to its former self, it used to be worth so much more and all looked bright for its future. Facebook is doing the same but is in the middle of its life span. At the moment people are beginning to see that Facebook likes and especially the adverts are extremely ineffective marketing tools thus the investment through advertisements has dropped considerably as will the companies value until it reaches a balance I'm guessing that it why Zuckerberg is really starting to cash it in, now is exactly the time to do so and it will never be worth what it has been over the past year again.

[peteyt]

One thing I didn't mention - I don't like the Skype/Facebook integration for one annoying reason unless it has been changed. I used to read all the messages on Skype but Facebook would still class it as unread and vice versa. Does it still do this as it used to annoy me?

[Chippiewill]

Facebook, dying brand? How so?

I've found less and less people I know want to use facebook, it's difficult to monetise, it's share price is in the sink and is going to drop again soon when the rest of the shares are sellable, and now companies are using it to dig up information about prospective employees.

[peteyt]

I've found less and less people I know want to use facebook, it's difficult to monetise, it's share price is in the sink and is going to drop again soon when the rest of the shares are sellable, and now companies are using it to dig up information about prospective employees.

The employee bit is easy to avoid by simply making your profile private. I used to have mine public but after falling out with someone they wouldn't leave me alone so I decided to make it private.

Financially wise advertisers are questioning the use of adverts on Facebook as people have mentioned mainly due to the fact its been discovered a lot of likes on pages and clicks on stuff are actually from fake profiles.

However I believe Facebook will continue for quite some time as it's the biggest popular social network. Google+ is growing but of the general public only want to have to update one account and with just about everyone on Facebook it makes it the best option. Twitter is quite popular but also limited feature wise (Groups, pages and many more) and also post wise (character limitations etc).

I do wonder if Facebook will turn into MySpace eventually but right now I'm not sure.

[Chippiewill]

The employee bit is easy to avoid by simply making your profile private.

I don't think it's as easy as that, some employers are denying applications unless they get friended on facebook if it's private and if they have no facebook at all it's too suspicious.

[peteyt]

I don't think it's as easy as that, some employers are denying applications unless they get friended on facebook if it's private and if they have no facebook at all it's too suspicious.

Oh I've never came across that myself. Who's done that as I thought they would be liable to be done for discrimination?

[Catchy]

i didn't even know people still used msn? lmfao...