Microsoft Shutting Down MSN Groups

Ahhh, MSN, the Microsoft Network. My first experience with it was when it was a ISP for my dial-up account after purchasing a new Compaq computer a number of years back.

Part of the community that was MSN was the MSN Groups. I never really participated in them that much, there was always another option that I was either already involved in or just nothing of interest to pull me away from something else.

Microsoft has announced recently that they will be shutting down the MSN Groups Service as of February 21, 2009. In the email I received this is the reason they shared for why Microsoft is shutting down the service.

Because we are dedicated to providing our customers with the most current and user friendly technology available today we made the difficult decision to close the MSN Groups service. This decision is part of an overall investment to update and re-align our online services with Windows Live. In the long term we believe that closing the service is the best way to continue to offer innovative and effective services that help you stay in touch with the people you care about. We plan to launch a new Groups service in the coming weeks, but unlike MSN Groups, Windows Live Groups will focus on offering a place for small groups to collaborate. Multiply is available now, making it your best option today for continuing to share and communicate together online.

It makes sense why they would close this down and just integrate it with what they’re offering on the Windows Live sites and platform. I say keep cutting some of these services and just partner with other sites providing similar features and options.