Instant messaging is considered a key element to what the wireless industry calls pervasive messaging, meaning the ability to send a text message from any device-such as a computer, pager or wireless phone-to any other text-enabled device regardless of network connection.
As the wireless industry works on the appropriate protocols needed to make cross-network messaging possible, the Internet industry has its own challenges to make the various existing instant-messaging systems interoperable.
But there is a battle waging within instant-messaging circles. In one corner is America Online, with about 90 million registered users sending an average of 650 million instant messages a day-by far the largest instant-messaging system in use and the undisputed heavyweight champ of the instant-messaging world.
In the other corner, a host of challengers desperate to enhance the use of their own instant-messaging systems, characterized by comparatively low user bases. Tribal Voice Inc., has about 8 million users on its PowWow system. Microsoft Corp.’s MSN Mobile Messenger instant-messaging service reports 3 million users.
While users of Tribal Voice, Microsoft and other instant-messaging systems like Go2 Messenger and @mobile can exchange messages freely among each other’s systems, AOL Instant Messenger users only can send and receive instant-messages to and from others who use the AIM technology.
Although these players continually attempt to reach AOL instant-messaging subscribers, AOL consistently blocks such access, angering many in the industry.
Cross-platform messaging is available today via e-mail, but e-mail by definition takes longer to reach its destination than an instant message. Also, a key feature of instant-messaging systems is the buddy list, which notifies each user when preselected contacts are online.
Recently, AOL submitted a proposal to the Internet Engineering Task Force outlining its plan to provide open access to its widely popular instant-messaging system. Critics say the filing is merely a move to appease regulators investigating possible antitrust violations related to its proposed merger with Time Warner.
“It’s good news in that AOL has now recognized that consumers and regulators are serious about instant-messaging interoperability. The gesture, and I emphasize gesture, to reflect that is important,” said Tribal Voice spokesman Matt Fleury. “In reality, AOL is no closer today than it was a year ago to opening its instant-messaging system. It’s impossible to view the submission as anything concrete.”
In particular, the proposal lists no time line for when the AOL system would connect to other systems, nor does it include any real technical information to make this possible.
In fact, just hours after submitting the proposal, AOL blocked access to its system by another instant messaging provider called Odigo. This seems standard procedure for the company. Ever since Microsoft first tried to access AOL’s AIM servers, AOL has denied access. As more and more attempt it, AOL keeps setting up roadblocks.
But AOL refuses to be labeled as the villain. Company spokeswoman Trisha Primrose said significant steps in security and privacy must be met before AOL exposes its users to the instant-messaging systems of others.
“We believe there should be interoperability. We just want to make sure when it happens, it won’t put our consumers at risk,” she said. “The groups that are doing interoperability now have a poor substitute for interoperability. It’s not real interoperability. We’ve been blocking these companies because the way they go about it puts our members at risk.”
In particular, AOL wants to ensure its members continue to have the ability to block unwanted messages. Primrose pointed to the various security risks inherent in today’s e-mail systems, such as spam and viruses, as shown by the recent Love Bug virus and others.
“We know how e-mail has been used for distribution of viruses and spam. Let’s not repeat those mistakes with instant messaging,” she said.
Instant messaging is expected to be valuable on wireless devices. Before extended to wireless devices, an instant message could be sent only to a computer, and users had to wait until other users were online. With wireless extension, users are available for instant messages when on their computer, wireless phone or pager. It eliminates the need to leave voice mail for nonessential messages, saves users the need to place a call for just a quick bit of information and provides knowledge of user availability before initiating contact.
Attracted by these possibilities, Motorola Inc. struck a deal with AOL to include the AOL Instant Messenger software on its upcoming smart devices, such as the Timeport P1088 smart phone and the Timeport P930 two-way messaging device. Microsoft last year announced its plan to extend its MSN Messenger instant-messaging service to wireless devices, as well as TV set-top boxes and handheld computers.
“Wireless is very important,” Fleury said. “The vision Tribal Voice has for instant messaging is that it will certainly heavily engage the wireless applications. We view the next generation of instant-messaging services as crossing many devices, wireless chief among them.”
AOL agrees. The company bought Tegic Communications Inc. last year specifically to gain access to its instant-messaging application for mobile devices. Earlier this year, AOL forged deals with Arch Communications Group Inc. and Sprint PCS, giving wireless subscribers the chance to access AOL content, including e-mail and instant messages.
Under the Arch deal, the two companies are expected to market AOL-branded two-way pagers for AOL Mobile Messenger service. Several others in the industry expect AOL to begin selling AOL-branded wireless phones as well, reselling airtime from a wireless carrier, much like the Arch deal.
One would imagine that opening the AOL system to other instant-messaging applications would only make it more valuable, providing access to a greater number of users.
“As a user of the telephone, you may use one long-distance provider and I may use another,” Fleury said. “We are accustomed to using different companies, but still communicate with each other nonetheless. We may have different e-mail providers but still communicate between them. Instant messaging absolutely must follow the same standards of openness. Consumers should be able to have a choice and still be able to communicate with others as a user.”
AOL recognizes this and licenses its AIM technology to other Internet service providers, like EarthLink and Juno. But it will not open the system up to competing systems until its security concerns are met.
