“Both Microsoft and AOL have submitted technical information to
the Internet Engineering Task Force, an industry standards body
that is drafting a standard for instant messaging. Their purported
aim? That users of all services–Microsoft’s MSN Messenger, AOL’s
Instant Messenger or ICQ, Yahoo Messenger, Tribal Voice PowWow, and
any interested others–be able to talk with one another.”
“Engineers, researchers, and vendors from around the world are
developing an open protocol called Instant Messaging and Presence
Protocol.
Draft protocol specifications may be available as soon as
January 2000. On Thursday a committee will submit an early
blueprint of the messaging standard to the IETF Application Group
for review and comments.”