Microsoft and Yahoo! to Connect IM Services

Yahoo! and Microsoft announced a landmark agreement to interconnect their instant messaging (IM) services on a global basis by Q2 2006. In addition to exchanging instant messages, consumers from both communities will be able to see their friends' online presence, share select emoticons, and easily add new contacts from either service to their friends' list, all as part of their free IM service.


The companies said their joint efforts would create "the largest consumer IM community in the world, estimated to be more than 275 million strong."


"This is truly a turning point for the IM industry, and we believe our agreement with Microsoft will help usher in a new era of IP communications," said Terry Semel, Yahoo! CEO.
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