Microsoft look like they’re going their   own way again. An article by IDG   says it’s making changes to its MSN   instant messaging (IM) service that will lock out users of third-party   software that uses the service as well as users of older versions of Microsoft’s   own Messenger client.
Users have to upgrade to the latest versions of MSN or Windows Messenger by   Oct. 15 or they will no longer be able to log on, Microsoft spokesman Sean   Sundwall said. This will lock out, at least for a while, users of IM software   such as Trillian, Imici and Odigo that allow users to consolidate multiple   IM accounts in one client.