Extensible instant-messaging (IM) developer Jabber Inc. said that Bertelsmann subsidiary Gruner + Jahr Electronic Media Service has licensed the Jabber Communications Platform.
G + J has already used the platform to launch in early February a desktop-messaging application on the Stern Web site. The SternMessenger features a news ticker, MP3 player, and links to other Web sites run by the company, officials said.
“The Jabber platform is the perfect vehicle to allow us to deliver personalized content to our Web site visitors,” said Stan Sugarman, executive vice president of G + J, in a statement. “Offering IM is just one more way in which G + J leads the market in providing the latest multimedia and communication tools to our customers.”
G + J added that plans to introduce Jabber messaging applications to other online properties it operates.
Based in Germany, G + J publishes about 40 magazines, including Stern. It is 75% owned by Bertelsmann AG (74.9%) and 25% by the Jahr family.
Jabber already has an international flavor — it counts France Telecom among its investors. Webb Interactive Services Inc.
has also invested in Jabber.
Bob Woods is the managing editor of InstantMessagingPlanet.
