Sat, 23 May 2009

Software giant Microsoft has barred Windows Live Messenger users in five countries, including Iran, from using instant messaging services.

According to a statement published Friday on the Microsoft website, Internet users in Cuba, Iran, Sudan, Syria and North Korea who wish to use instant messaging services will be gifted with Error 810003c1 and a message box that will say "We are unable to sign you in to the .NET Messenger Service."

"Microsoft has discontinued providing Instant Messenger services in certain countries subject to United States sanctions," the statement explains, referring users to the United States Office of Foreign Assets Control for more information.

The move has caused controversy in the World Wide Web, with some user questioning the decision, as some of the sanctions have been in place for more than ten years.

The company's credibility came under scrutiny last month when Microsoft's Windows Live and Hotmail users could not log in to their accounts. When trying to access accounts users were informed that they simply did not have an inbox.

Microsoft claimed the problem was "because of a network issue that we encountered while doing routine maintenance."

Microsoft and rival Yahoo have been wrestling against the global recession. During the first quarter of 2009, Microsoft posted its first-ever quarterly revenue loss, with revenues of $13.65 billion, representing a 6.5 percent decrease compared with previous year figures.