AOL Won't Enable Instant Messaging Interoperability

chill writes "Wired is reporting 'America Online is scaling back efforts to make its popular instant messaging system work with rivals, saying the task has proven too difficult and expensive.' That's funny, they don't seem to have a problem blocking anyone who figures out how to interoperate. Legally, they are not supposed to offer "next gen" IM over Time Warner's cable lines until they can interoperate. We shall see."

Comments

Why?

[AriesGeek]

I use AIM, Yahoo Instant Messenger, and ICQ. I have seen MSN messenger. None of the others allow interoperability. Why should AOL make theirs that way if the others aren't following suit?

Re:Its their Servers

[scalis]

Interesting point... Does this apply to the US government "finding loopholes, making empty promises, and otherwise screwing over the very people that fill their coffers" when they abuse other countries too?

well, they do have a point...

[claude_juan]

why would they want their customers' (AOL in particular) passwords and usernames floating around and being messed with by (mostly) second rate software? Its not in their best interests. They gain nothing by having programs like trillian and gaim use their protocols. If you are peeved by not being able to chat with your buddies, write your own chat program using AOLs OPEN SOURCE protocol, TOC!!! They have provided the tools. Now back off.

As an AIM user, I like this

[clark625]

Okay, I'm all for other clients being able to instant message around to one another. I like competition. And I love free software (as in speech).

But I like AIM as it is. Well, rather I like it as it was--before there were alternatives that were allowed to get onto AOL's network. I used to be able to find new buddies easily enough, and when I got a message from someone new it typically was genuine.

But now, some f*tards as using the AIM system to send out spam-like messages. Is it coming from the rival clients? I don't know. But the one way to identify these bots running is that their profile always states "No Information Provided". This is the type of thing that really puts a strain on AOL's servers, and I can't quite blame them for not wanting to declare a lifetime of open season on their servers.

Sure, it would be nice if there was a completely interoperable messaging system. But to get this, we might force ourselfs to deal with getting slammed several times a minute by bots running around messaging everyone they can find. I'm just so tired of that, I am more willing to give up the competition. AIM's clients (even the java one) aren't really that bad. They work and do their jobs pretty good. Maybe this is one case where the majority of people would rather have a very closed, controlled community. Better ask mom and gramdpa about this before we go stating that this is completely a bad thing.