It might not be as delicious a combination as peanut butter and chocolate, but a new tie-up between the instant message clients of Yahoo! and Microsoft could leave a good taste in users’ mouths.
First announced months (and months and months) ago, a beta test of the the two networks’ new compatibility went live late yesterday, according to BetaNews. Interested users of either Windows Live Messenger or Yahoo! Messenger with Voice will need to be running the latest version of their respective IM software, and also sign up their account for the beta test. Then they’ll be able to add chat buddies across networks and send text messages. Although voice functionality is in the works, it’ll have to wait for now. The operation was running behind schedule as it was, explains a Microsoft program manager:
“We’re pretty excited about the solutions we’ve come up with for our first version of yahoo + messenger…I have been working on this for way too long.”
The sudden conjoinment has instantly made the Yahoo!/Microsoft alliance a formidable power in the instant message space, as they now control over a 50 percent-plus share of the market and reach over 350 million users. That puts even more pressure on a reeling AOL, whose AIM product was almost ubiquitous for a long time. Reportedly, AOL will announce a spanking new business strategy to set it right again in early August. Hope they’ve got something good…
