Microsoft's firing squad has put off the execution of Windows Live Messenger, leaving it sitting on death row for another few weeks.

Redmond is in the process of ditching Messenger in favour of Skype Chat and was due to throw everyone off the older messaging service on 15 March. Instead, users will be compelled to switch over, whether they like it or not, by 8 April.

The brief reprieve is to "give you more time to make the transition", Microsoft said. The whole shift is expected to take a few weeks and the firm is naturally advising folks to switch over now rather than waiting until the cutoff point.

Some users have reported trouble in their shift to Skype, saying that their MSN messenger contacts have failed to make their way onto the blue service. ®

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