WASHINGTON: Microsoft has decided to disconnect Google and Facebook chat from its Outlook.com email.
Microsoft doesn’t explain why it has decided to end Facebook Chat integration. For Google Talk, however, Microsoft blames it on “Google’s decision to discontinue the chat protocol used by the Google Talk platform.”
The company informed Outlook.com users about the change through an email. In the email, Microsoft attributes its decision to drop Google Chat support to search giant’s decision to discontinue the chat protocol used by the Google Talk platform.
The email goes on to add, “We understand that this may disappoint some of our customers, but we hope that you’ll try Skype for Outlook.com chat, and voice, video calling, so you can take advantage of the more robust ways to keep in touch with friends and family.”
This means, going forward, the only chat service available on Outlook.com will be Skype.
The email from Microsoft also clarifies that “This update will not impact the connection to your Facebook and/or Google accounts, which means your People page will stay updated with the latest contact information from the services you have connected.”
In all, the decision seems to be latest in the ongoing Microsoft-Google feud.
