Instant Messengers using the popular MSN Messenger service will have to Instant Message using the Hotmail IM facility to keep in touch with their buddies starting tomorrow.

It would formally retire the MSN Messenger application as the service is already available on Windows Live Hotmail as on June 30^th 2009.

Microsoft claims that many users are already using the facility in Hotmail instead of using the MSN messenger application separately as they find it convenient to do both, check mail and Instant Message at the same time, which is what Hotmail offers.

This move could also be seen as a measure to cut costs of maintaining the separate messenger service/application. Other Instant Messaging providers such as Gtalk and Yahoo IM offer both facilities, to Instant Message through the e-mail user interface or to Instant Message separately through their dedicated Instant Messaging applications.

Soon, even Google and Yahoo may put down their separate Instant Messaging user interface Gtalk and Yahoo IM as many of their users too have switched over to using the Instant Messaging interface incorporated in their e-mail.