Yahoo and Microsoft join up for chats

Yahoo and Microsoft have taken a big step towards interoperability between rival instant messaging (IM) solutions by announcing that they have connected their users to create the world’s largest IM community.

The 350 million users of Yahoo’s Messenger and Windows Live Messenger can now exchange instant text messages across the free services, as well as see their friends’ online presence, share emoticons and add new contacts from either service.
“Interoperability between IM services has consistently topped our users’ wish lists,” explained George Hadjigeorgiou, general manager, Yahoo communications products Europe commented.

“The bridge between our messenger community and Windows Live Messenger will bring people around the world closer together – signalling a whole new era for staying connected.”

Unfortunately, the spirit of cooperation does not extend to voice messaging. According to a Yahoo spokeswoman: “The deal does not cover VoIP chats. People using the two services can chat by text but, not voice.”

In a Yahoo survey of UK IM users, almost a third of them wanted to be able to chat to friends using other IM software. Other reasons they gave for loving instant messaging included the ease of sending quick messages and the ability to see when their friends were online.

Philips recently launched a DECT handsfree home phone that allows you to swap between Windows Live voice calls users and dial-up, but it would not work with Yahoo.