MSN chat will become subscription-only service in the U.S. Microsoft Corp. is pulling the plug on its free chat service in all but four countries, the company revealed on Tuesday.Citing a rise in spam and offensive material, the company plans to eliminates its chat services completely in 28 countries, while restricting access to the chat groups in the U.S.The changes will take place, effective Oct. 14, when MSN’s chat services will be suspended in most countries, including Spain, France, and Mexico, a Microsoft spokeswoman confirmed. “MSN chat will become a subscription-only service in the U.S.,” said the spokeswoman. “Anybody will be able to view the chat rooms, but you must have a subscription to MSN (Microsoft Network) to participate,” she said. This means that U.S. users who want to use Microsoft’s chat.msn.com chat site will now have to pay, at least, the $19.95 fee for MSN Extra Storage program, she said.Not all free chat services will disappear, however. Users in Canada, Japan, New Zealand, and Brazil will still have access to free moderated chat, she said. MSN subscribers in Canada and Japan will also have the option of unmoderated chat, she said.Microsoft believes the changes were required to protect customers, who were being inundated with inappropriate material. “Basically, it was an effort to provide a more safe and secure online experience,” she said. Software DevelopmentTechnology Industry