Hi Edgar,
Actually it's AOL that stops others from communicating with users on AIM. In fact, in the
very early Messenger versions, Microsoft did allow you to talk to people on AIM and AOL
constantly blocked them. It was similar to a chess game as one Messenger version would come
out, then AOL would find a way to block it, then Microsoft would release another version and
so on. However, the feature was soon dropped.
For the record, Yahoo Messenger can only communicate with users on Yahoo Messenger, it cannot
connect to any other network.
As far as I'm aware, the only real interoptable instant messaging network currently is AIM
and ICQ (which are both owned by AOL).
____________________________________________
Jonathan Kay
Microsoft MVP - Windows Messenger/MSN Messenger
Associate Expert
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone/
Messenger Resources -
http://messenger.jonathankay.com
All posts unless otherwise specified are (c) 2004 Jonathan Kay.
You *must* contact me for redistribution rights.