“Internet rivals clubbed together today to try to force America
Online to open up its huge instant messaging system to the outside
world. Microsoft’s MSN network said it has joined with AT&T,
Excite@Home and others to establish a common open standard for
instant messaging, which lets Web surfers chat with one another
live.”
“AOL’s messaging network dwarfs all its competitors combined,
and it has cited security and privacy concerns for so far declining
to let outside networks reach its millions of subscribers–though
it says it supports a linkup in principle.”
“The new alliance will be called IMUnified–IM stands
for instant messaging–and its member companies will set out
common specifications by the end of next month to allow their
networks to be linked up.”