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Upcoming AIM Will Chat With ICQ

Next version of AOL's instant messenger will allow users to communicate with users of ICQ chat service.

Scarlet Pruitt, IDG News Service

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The next version of America Online's Instant Messenger will allow users to communicate with ICQ users in a move that will bridge the gap between the company's two popular chat services.

AOL is currently beta testing the interoperability in its AOL 5.1 beta, company spokesperson Anne Bentley said Tuesday.

Building Buddy Lists

Currently, the beta client allows AIM users to add ICQ users to their "Buddy Lists," view when they are online and send them instant messages.

But although ICQ users can receive messages from AIM users, they cannot yet add them to their Buddy Lists, Bentley said.

The spokesperson added that "hopefully" the next version of ICQ will support AIM users.

Gaining New Users

The move could be an effort by the company to swell the numbers of its IM users as it faces increasing competition from rival services such as Yahoo's Messenger and MSN Messenger.

AOL acquired ICQ from Israel-based Mirabilis in 1998. While AIM has proven popular with U.S. users, ICQ has a stronghold in the international market.

By allowing the two IM services to communicate, AOL could potentially balloon its user base.

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