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AIM Blocks Odigo Instant Messaging

Startup enjoys brief interoperability with leading messaging program before AOL strikes back.

By Christine M. Campbell, IDG News   

AOL blocked the Odigo instant messaging software ten days after Odigo originally allowed its users to communicate with AOL Instant Messenger users, according to Avner Ronen, co-founder and vice president of strategic development for Odigo. However, Odigo's users can still communicate with people who use ICQ, AOL's other instant messaging community, he adds.

"We're surprised [AOL] acted that way, after ten days," Ronen says. "In previous cases, [rival instant messaging providers] were blocked in a matter of hours."

Because instant messaging software requires users to enter their IDs and passwords, AOL takes action to prevent unauthorized users from gaining access to members' accounts, says Tricia Primrose, an AOL spokesperson. Odigo and other instant messaging providers attempt unauthorized access, she says.

"We consider it, essentially, hacking; we want to protect members' privacy and security," Primrose says.

Ronen said that Odigo tried unsuccessfully to contact AOL before releasing its interoperable instant messaging software. AOL gave no notice before blocking Odigo users from exchanging instant messages with AIM users, he adds.

Odigo is again trying to contact AOL about permitting Odigo users to communicate with AIM users, Ronen says. Meanwhile, Odigo is looking for ways to restore communications between AIM users and Odigo's approximately 700,000 users. 100,000 of them signed up for the service after Odigo announced interoperability with AIM, Ronen says.

Primrose says she is not aware of any attempts by Odigo to contact AOL before the Odigo's launch.

Ongoing Fracas

AOL has battled competing instant messaging vendors since last year, when it locked out Microsoft's MSN Messenger, iCast's iCaster, and Tribal Voice's PowWow. Then, AOL argued that Microsoft was gaining access to AIM servers and to sensitive information, such as passwords.

The battle was rekindled in light of the impending AOL and Time Warner merger. Tribal Voice and iCast both filed briefs asking that one condition of the merger be instant messaging interoperability. Other companies, including Microsoft, Excite@Home, AltaVista, and AT&T voiced concerns to a U.S. Senate subcommittee considering the merger.

Odigo "will be one of the first to adopt" an instant messaging standard, Ronen says. "Interoperability is a priority for Odigo."

Recently, Tribal Voice and iCast also sent approximately 2000 consumer petitions to the U.S. Federal Communications Commission demanding that AOL open its instant messaging services to interoperability.

AOL supports efforts to arrive at an open standard for interoperability, Primrose says.

"Our view is we should spend time to create a standard that protects privacy and security of users, [which is] far more desirable than fast-tracking [to a standard]," Primrose adds. AOL also licenses its AIM technology to IBM, Novell, Lycos, EarthLink, Apple, and Juno.