Just so I understand this: they're switching from direct P2P messages between users (like MSN), to routing the messages through their own data centers first (like Facebook)?

So in theory this will prevent any messages ever getting lost en route to the recipient?

I can't tell you how many messages have gone undelivered between my friends and I when we used to use MSN messenger exclusively (even happens once or twice on Skype), causing serious breakdowns in communication. ("Did you get that message? Did you get that message?)

I always wished they'd switch to this architecture.