Christopher Saunders

America Online is making big changes to its AOL Instant Messenger IM client, in an effort to expand the appeal of its popular IM system while making money at the same time. The company said today that it would add online games to the client, enabling users to play each other. AOL also said it […]

In the wake of Microsoft’s efforts to block unauthorized instant messaging clients from its .NET Messenger network, rival Yahoo! is following suit — while also considering ways to provide access to competitors’ networks. Last week, a Yahoo! user survey asked visitors to its Web portal whether they’d consider purchasing a multi-network IM client — similar […]

A new agreement between America Online and Cingular Wireless will further spread AOL’s flavor of IM into wireless sector, while promoting the mobile carrier’s own efforts to deploy IM and other revenue-boosting services. Through the arrangement with America Online, a unit of New York’s AOL Time Warner , Atlanta-based Cingular will offer its subscribers the […]

Users of America Online’s Instant Messaging and ICQ networks will be able to exchange messages with users of Reuters plc (Quote, Company Info)’s IM system, thanks to a new interoperability deal between the two so-called “gated communities.” Like most of the largest networks in instant messaging, AIM and the year-old Reuters Messaging network are both […]

In a move that paves the way for America Online to launch videoconferencing and other next-generation applications of its instant messaging network, sources close to the Federal Communications Commission say the regulator intends to drop a two-year-old restriction on AOL Time Warner’s development of advanced, broadband-based IM services. The news was first reported by the […]

Cerulean Studios is preparing to unveil the next version of its popular multi-network instant messaging client, Trillian Pro — adding basic support for Jabber-based servers, a number of new public IM features, and opening its architecture to new IM services. With the addition of Jabber — also known as Extensible Messaging and Presence Protocol, or […]

Continuing efforts to establish instant messaging as a communications medium in its offerings, enterprise software vendor PeopleSoft today is expected to announce that it has added support for AOL Instant Messenger to its portal product. As a result, the Pleasanton, Calif.-based PeopleSoft’s AppConnect Enterprise Portal will support connecting with users via AIM, in addition to […]

Continuing efforts to make money from its instant messaging network, AOL Time Warner’s America Online unit is taking the wraps off improvements to its IM enterprise gateway software and client. Most importantly, the new edition of the free AOL Instant Messenger client — Version 5.2 — adds support for Public Key Infrastructure-based encrypted instant messaging […]

In an attempt to create more enticements to use its flagship service, America Online plans to launch “SuperBuddies” — comical, animated and sound-enhanced 3D icons for its IM service. Viewable only by AOL 9.0 Optimized subscribers, SuperBuddies appear within in instant message conversation windows and react to chatters’ emoticons, abbreviations, and Away messages — giving […]

Microsoft is taking the wraps off the new version of its public IM client, MSN Messenger, with an eye to topping features offered in competitors’ services. Officially, the release is a preview version of MSN Messenger 6, and will be made available for download later today. But it’s likely that little will be changed in […]

While rival AOL is embarking on new efforts to boost its enterprise IM offerings, Yahoo! is looking to integration deals with WebEx and BEA Systems to boost the uptake of its own instant messaging services among businesses. The Sunnyvale, Calif.-based Web portal said it plans the next release of Yahoo! Messenger Enterprise Edition (EE) — […]

America Online is expected today to announce the launch of its Certified AIM Partner Program, an initiative designed to derive revenue from AOL Instant Messenger management gateways offered by third parties. Boston-based IMlogic becomes the first third-party gateway provider to join under the program. As a result, AOL said it has “certified” IMlogic’s IM Manager […]