All your IM are belong to us.

[ReBurn]

http://money.cnn.com/2005/10/12/technology/microsoft_yahoo.reut/index.htm

[Bennyhana]

The technology behind the deal already exists.

yeah, it's called Trillian, and it's been around for years.  I'm not sure if it's the companies or the people who don't get it.  But someone clearly doesn't.

[Mr. Ubiquity]

The technology behind the deal already exists.

yeah, it's called Trillian, and it's been around for years.  I'm not sure if it's the companies or the people who don't get it.  But someone clearly doesn't.

of course the companies get it.  what they are banking on is that when the advertise, the people who see it things its a totally revolutionary idea and those are the people they want to make money off.
same as any major brand  marketing its products.  you can spend the money for their program or you can get the smaller guys free program that will work better.   they assume, and succeed, that what you see is what you buy.