ICQ introduced server-based contact lists with the release of version 2001b earlier this year, in effect freeing its members from the desktop by storing address books and other data on central computers maintained by the company.ĪOL Time Warner, with its AIM and ICQ messaging services, has 41.7 million home subscribers, up 21 percent from a year earlier, according to a report last month from online research firm Jupiter Media Metrix. MSN Messenger users rose 94 percent to 18.5 million Yahoo Messenger subscribers rose 25 percent to 11.9 million. None of the services work with each other, although efforts are under way to set common IM standards. ![]() AOL, which has long been criticized for refusing to open its network to rivals, has recently cut deals with IBM subsidiary Lotus and with Sun Microsystems to test interoperability for its service. In the past year Microsoft has aggressively challenged AOL on several fronts, offering special deals for Internet access and integrating its instant messenger into its new operating system, Windows XP. ![]() Microsoft plans to serve up a virtual smorgasbord of features it hopes other companies will use to add services. Windows Messenger's videoconferencing features could be used to enhance online gaming or distance learning.
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