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FCC Lifts AOL IM Limits

Posted by michael on from the why-even-have-laws dept.

TypoNAM writes "'The Federal Communications Commission has agreed to lift restrictions that have barred AOL Time Warner from offering advanced instant messaging services including videoconferencing, according to a source familiar with the decision.'" A couple of years ago, the FCC made a big fuss about how it was watching out for the public interest in approving the AOL/TW merger.

7 of 232 comments (clear)

  1. As if we didn't see this coming... by M.C.+Hampster · · Score: 4, Interesting

    I remember reading about these restrictions back when they were first imposed and thought to myself, "AOL will continue to lose market share and will eventually convince the FCC to lift the ban."

    It sounds like a valid reason to me. As usual, most monopolies, especially in technology, get broken down by the market sooner (Word Perfect) or later (MS?).

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    Forget the whales - save the babies.
  2. I dont follow... by killermal · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Maybe I'm missing the point a little here, but why would advancement in video confrancing technology for customers be against public interest? Surely advancement in technologies is IN the public interest?

  3. Re:Great by connsmythe96 · · Score: 4, Interesting

    Riiight..I don't think cross-platform is on their mind. Last I checked, the Linux version of AOL IM was horribly out of date. I don't think the Mac version is very good either, but I can't say for sure. Open source has been the only way to go for IM on linux for a long time now.

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    if(!cool) exit(-1);
  4. Re:Great by krisp · · Score: 4, Interesting

    But, if they implement it into their network, it can be cloned more or less as eaisly as the AIM service itself was cloned. Imagine, a conversation with your girlfriend's iChat A/V from your linux box with Gaim.

  5. Doesn't AOL already offer services like this? by toddestan · · Score: 4, Interesting

    I have ICQ Pro (ICQ is owned by AOL) and it has features like this built in, though I have never used them. I do believe it makes use of external software like Microsoft's NetMeeting though, which is not distributed with ICQ Pro.

    Do they get away with this because ICQ is not considered AOL IM? Even though ICQLite can talk to AOL IM, and I think AOL IM can add ICQ contacts to their list.

  6. What about the advantage MSN Messenger has? by geekmetal · · Score: 5, Interesting
    In January 2001, the FCC ruled that the combination of AOL and Time Warner could pose problems for competitors trying to develop their own IM products. Regulators and rivals were concerned that combining AOL's leading Internet subscriber base with Time Warner's entertainment content and regional cable monopoly would create an unfair advantage in the market.

    Microsoft bundles the MSN messenger with their OS getting an unfair advantage over the other IM providers. Most workplaces don't allow their employees to install any software on them, thus they turn to MSN messenger which is already on their Windows systems. Has the FCC done anything to stop Microsoft from doing that? Anyone know?

    --
    There are two kinds of egotists: 1) Those who admit it 2) The rest of us
  7. iChat AV by askien · · Score: 4, Interesting
    I really hope that AOL interoperates with iChat AV.


    They don't need to come up with another incompatible standard. Go with Apple.


    Steve Jobs already mentioned that his stuff is open, and that he's waiting for other companies to copy it. This would be the perfect way to do it.


    iChat AV is awesome, but currently, it can only do VC with other iChat AV users (on the Mac).


    Hell, iChat already uses the AOL protocol and everything... What are they waiting for???

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    -- askien