Saturday, October 15, 2005

It's Time To Take Back Instant Messaging

This is an interesting article in Slashdot:

http://yro.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=05/10/15/138220&from=rss

The TechZone says the world of instant messaging is a disjointed mess, and it's time for a citizen's revolt. From the article: "The obstacles in this case are three big companies: AOL, Yahoo! and Microsoft. Each wants to keep their networks closed, thereby forcing consumers to use their brand of software and effectively using their size to eliminate competition. Five years ago, Yahoo! and Microsoft were calling for then-leader AOL/ICQ to open their network to allow others to compete. They even successfully petitioned the FCC to restrict AOL's future developments before approving the AOL/Time Warner merger. When it was convenient for their business goals, Microsoft and Yahoo! waved the interoperability flag, but now that both companies have built substantial IM communities with their own closed networks, they have lost their passion for open networks."

6 comments:

Anonymous said...
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Kal said...

And now we have Google trying to make a entree.

Fuckkit said...

Hear hear! Although most people I talk to are on MSN anyway, but I feel that point :)

Fuckkit said...
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mojotek said...

I think Google will be a lot more open with their IM software than any of the other contenders.

Anonymous said...

Use trillian (www.trillian.cc) and use all of them in one app.