Yahoo and Microsoft IM Interoperability Arrives

[Jeff]

THE WAIT IS FINALLY OVER! Yahoo and Microsoft have finally delivered true IM interoperability. Beginning late on July 12th, Yahoo! Messenger with Voice and Windows Live Messenger beta opened the doors to true interoperability.

What does this mean to you? Simply put, it means that if you already use Yahoo! Messenger, you won't need a Windows Live Messenger (WLM) account to communicate with your friends who prefer WLM. Conversely, if you're an avid Windows Live Messenger fan, you don't need an account on Yahoo! Messenger to keep in touch with your friends who use that IM network. With either instant messaging program, you can add contacts from the other IM network, send and receive instant messages.

I've tested this out and have some screenshots and detailed information on what features are supported.

First, I had to install a new beta version of Windows Live Messenger (8.0.0792.00). The instructions clearly state that it's a beta, but the build of Windows Live Messenger has no beta indicator anywhere to be found.

From the Yahoo! Messenger side, I also installed the latest version of their beta (8.0.0.508). Amazing how close the version and build numbers are, isn't it?

Adding a Contact
This process is really simple in Windows Live Messenger. Just add the [contact-name]@yahoo.com as you would any regular WLM contact.

In Yahoo, it's a little bit different. You type in their WLM name, but you also have to select which IM network from a drop-down list.

Once you've added the contacts, you'll see them in your contact list. You can place them in a group. You can also see any personal display message they've created. You won't, however, see any "now playing" information from iTunes or Windows Media Player.

Initiating a chat works the same as with your regular contacts. The following screenshots show both sides of an interoperable chat session between Yahoo and Windows Live Messenger.

Supported Features

• Basic text chat
• 25 basic emoticons
• The Buzz/Nudge function

Not Supported
Pretty much everything else. This interoperability doesn't currently include voice, although there have been rumors that may be coming. It doesn't include webcams. It doesn't include text formatting. It doesn't include avatars, although this also appear eminent.

What does this mean for IM?
It's big news, and something we've been anticipating for a long time. The lack of interoperability spawned a cottage industry of mult-network IM programs like Trillian and Adium. This could give many people less reasons to use those alternatives.

It's also big news for AOL and Google, who have previously announced that they also are planning to develop interoperability between AIM and Google Talk. Microsoft and Yahoo's combined user base is 300 million users, giving them substantial leverage in the IM market.

Try the interoperability features for yourself and share your comments.

[Eagle_Kiwi]

Hmmmm, early days yet, but nothing "works" for me. :(

I have WLM 792 and YM 508, and can ADD any name I like to either (including made up fake names just as easily) - but I never get indication of anyone across network being "online" (even when I know they are).

And sending IM from YM... it "goes", but never reaches WLM.
Sending from WLM, it always just says your msg couldn't be delivered.

[chikenkicker]

i had same problem as you kiwi i had added my msn to my yahoos contact list and vice versa but couldnt get it to work, so i reinstalled both deleted myself out of both lists re added myself now i can see them on and message them

so try reinstalling the client

[msgrits]

it kills me that i have to do all this to make it work...i don't think it's worth it

[Nessa]

You don't have to uninstall and reinstall either one. The reason it probably doesn't work is because you have to sign up for beta on both sites (clicking on Jeff's first to links). You don't have to download anything if you already have the beta versions, just that they want to know how many people are trying this out so are making people go through the site for it (or redownload it if you want to do it the long way). Right after that, the site tells you to log out then back in and then you have interoperabilty!

This is how it worked for me, no uninstalling or reinstalling, just thought i should share this!

[Haza]

Y!M - WLM interoperability beta limited to 500,000 users

According to www.mess.be, Yahoo! & Windows Live interoperability beta is limited to 500,000 users.

So if you’re interested, sign up at ideas.live.com now.

[heinz1218]

Ok, so I've seen articles on slashdot and other various online publications, AND an email in my inbox from BBB.com about the new interoperability of MSN and Yahoo. But I can't help thinking, does anyone really care?

As you might have assumed by now, I use AIM. It's not that I think it's better, it's just what came out first, and all my friends have it. In fact, when I think about the move to allow MSN and Yahoo to communicate, I leterally can't think of one person that I know who uses either of the two.

Since I'm sure there are some users out there who use them, I'm wondering - anyone know what the market share of AIM, MSN and Yahoo are? Clearly a decent amout of people browse the MSN/Yahoo forums here, but that's not a good indicator of your average IMer.

[Jeff]

heinz, latest figures show that Yahoo plus WLM combined total around 350 million user accounts. That's more than AIM.

You have to remember, there's a big world outside the USA, and most of it doesn't give a **** about AIM.

[Baloo Ursidae]

Ho hum, Jabber's already made both compatible. Then again, Jabber's in a good spot to become the lowest common denominator.

[Google Guru]

Sounds great, but I haven't gotten a chance to test it yet considering I don't have any contacts on Yahoo! messenger.