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Microsoft Introduces IM Licensing

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the use-jabber dept.

prostoalex writes "The MSN Messenger ban of outside clients and cited security issues might be explained by yet another Microsoft move. The company's Internet unit, MSN, contacted third-party providers like Trillian and Odigo with a suggestion to buy access licenses. From the ZDNet article: 'Running an (IM) network is expensive,' said Lisa Gurry, group product manager for MSN at Microsoft. 'We can't sustain multiple other people's businesses, particularly if they charge for certain versions of their software. We're introducing licensing processes for third parties like Trillian.'"

3 of 574 comments (clear)

  1. Whaddya gonna do by Locky · · Score: 5, Informative

    There's nothing you can really argue here, It's Microsoft's network, they can do what they want with it.

    I encourage everyone to support the Jabber protocol, open and free for many clients to use, including the next revision of Trillian Pro.

  2. Time to make your friends switch to Jabber. by MrHanky · · Score: 4, Informative

    And so should you do. It's just as easy to deal with as MS Messenger, it works on many platforms, and it's free. Now you see why free as in Microsoft gives it away is not free as in free.

    I recommend Psi for both Linux and Windows, but I'm sure there are other clients that are just as good.

  3. Re:p2p IM by quantum+bit · · Score: 4, Informative

    It's called Jabber.

    Not P2P, but it's decentralized like e-mail so anybody can run a server and chat with people on other servers.