Microsoft’s instant messaging share now almost 70% thanks to Skype

By Tom Warren, on 13th Jun 11 2:00 pm with 14 Comments

Microsoft’s worldwide Instant Messenger market share is close to 70%.

Microsoft’s acquisition of Skype has pushed the software giant’s instant messaging market share up to 68% according to new data from OPSWAT, a software manageability firm. OPSWAT’s latest Q2 2011 report (PDF) focuses on installed and running Instant Messenger applications. The company uses its own OESIS frame work and registry information to determine the market share of well-known instant messaging (IM) applications. “Windows Live Messenger accounts for just over 40% of the installed IM applications, followed by Skype, which accounts for more than a quarter of the installations,” says OPSWAT.

“Three instant messenger clients dominate the market for PC users, with over 80% combined market share,” says OPSWAT’s report. This number does not account for the market share of web-based instant messaging services such as Google Chat and Facebook, which could mean that a higher percentage of PC users than reported actively use instant messaging.”

Microsoft has now acquired Skype, meaning it controls 68% of the IM market. Microsoft says Skype will support Microsoft devices like Xbox and Kinect, Windows Phone and a wide array of Windows devices, and Microsoft will connect Skype users with Lync, Outlook, Xbox Live and other communities. Microsoft will continue to invest in and support Skype clients on non-Microsoft platforms, a key to maintaining a strong market share. Skype currently has 170 million connected users and saw over 207 billion minutes of voice and video conversations in 2010 alone.

  • Anonymous

    I dont think the skype deal is closed yet?

    • http://twitter.com/AsTh11 Alessandro Grua

      It’s not, it should happen towards the end of the year.

  • Joe05

    Microsoft is in the process of buying Skype, won’t happen. Until later this year, as of now Skype is run by….Skype.

    • Kainy

      Well the plans are that Skype will be ran by … Skype :D even after MS buy it.

  • Joe05

    Microsoft is in the process of buying Skype, won’t happen. Until later this year, as of now Skype is run by….Skype.

  • Mark

    MS hasn’t acquired Skype until the deal clears regulatory approval.

  • http://twitter.com/abhi1manyu Abhimanyu Jamwal

    (not in this context)
    tom…….dont you think microsoft should buy spotify and merge it with zune, may be re brand zune as spotify. It can be huge for wp7 and will give spotify access to US markets. Further, spotify is the only real compititor to itunes and hence should be considered?

    • Anonymous

      I heard that Microsoft will be rolling out Zune international service sometime in September (getting close to Mango time)  I find Zune incredibly more powerful and useful than Spotify given they give you DRMless music as part of the fee.

    • Anonymous

      I heard that Microsoft will be rolling out Zune international service sometime in September (getting close to Mango time)  I find Zune incredibly more powerful and useful than Spotify given they give you DRMless music as part of the fee.

  • Test1ngi23

    As the famous quote goes, “If you can’t beat them, join them.” Or in this case, make them join you!

  • http://twitter.com/jimmyfal Jimmy Fallon

    Flat out innacurate, LOTS of people use Facebook and Google. Pointless statistics. Give us more on Win 8 though… You have a great site Tom, keep up the good work by the way.

    • Kainy

      In the original statistics Google has 3.56% and I didn’t saw Facebook any ware :D

  • MSblog

    I like to know what the Carriers think about the purchase, I suspect it does not make them happy partners.

  • muchi

    I don’t understand why QQ from China is not on the list. QQ has over 300 MILLION active users and sometimes 100 MILLION QQ users go on line at the same time… That is not money?