Windows Live Messenger and Skype are coming together! If you used to use Messenger, here’s a quick guide on what you need to know about Skype for Windows desktop. http://blogs.skype.com/category/tips-tricks/

1. Upgrading from Windows Live Messenger to Skype

2. I used to use Messenger,
what do I need to know
about Skype for Windows
desktop?
James is probably the city’s most
stylish accountancy student – and an
expert on training shoes and trading
currencies. He used to use Messenger
with a webcam, but since he got a new
PC, he updated to Skype to keep in
touch with his girlfriend... and to get
hold of his broker via IM when it’s time
to make a trade.
He’s here to help you get to grips with
Skype for Windows desktop:

3. 1
With Skype, you can send
instant messages (IM) just like
Messenger. But it also gives
you free voice and video calls
to other people on Skype. Less
money on your phone bill,
more money to buy sneakers…
To get started, sign in to Skype
with your Microsoft account
(it’s the same as your
Messenger ID).

4. 2
Your Messenger contacts will
be automatically added to
Skype, so all your contacts –
your friends, family and
currency brokers – are in one
place. If you only want to see
your Messenger contacts,
select All in the contacts list
and then Messenger.

5. 3
Categories and groups don’t
migrate to Skype, but you can
set up lists in seconds.
Right-click on the Contacts
tab and select Create new list.
Give it a name then search
through your contacts and
right-click to add them to it.

6. 4
You can also make some
contacts Favorites so they
appear at the top of your
contact list every time.
Right-click on the contact
name and select Add to
Favorites, or left-click, hold
and drag their name to the top
of the list, then release.
And if they stop your being
favorites, you can just drag
them back down!

7. 5
To write a message, click on a
contact, and an IM window will
appear on the right. To send,
simply hit return or the Send
message button.

8. 6
Add an emoticon by clicking
on the smiley face in the IM
window, or just type the usual
shortcuts :-).

9. 7
To share a file like a photo,
drag and drop it from your
desktop or file folder into the
IM window – or use the plus
sign at the top of the window
and select Send file. You can
share contacts this way too.

10. 8
All chats are kept under Recent
so you can go back to find the
photo or file you were sent
yesterday, last week or even a
few months ago.

11. 9
If you want to have a group
chat, click on Create a group
at the top of the contact list,
and drag contacts into it – or
just add someone to your
current chat using the plus
sign, then selecting Add
people.

12. 10
Adding new contacts is easy.
Click on the Add a contact
button at the top or use the
search bar at the top to search
by name, Skype Name or
Microsoft account. Of course,
all your Messenger contacts
have already been merged to
Skype.
If there’s someone you haven’t
seen for a while, why not give
them a video call – free from
one Skype user to another.