Aol Instant Messenger

2 Pages 418 Words

AOL prevents another company from instant messaging


“America Online has fired another shot in its ongoing battle against companies trying to tap into its coveted instant messaging network.” Time Warner’s affiliate AOL has been blocking companies trying to tap into its current instant messaging network. These other companies are trying to get there programs to work with AOL’s instant messaging system and AOL has repeatedly turned away these companies stating that it infringes on their privacy policies. Since 1997 AOL has been very popular
even though AOL has been involved in legal issues over its instant messenger.
AOL began instant messenger or I.M. in 1997 when one of AOL’s program writer’s, Mr. Jim Johnson, designed a brilliant plan to have direct contact between members on an open email page. Jim and AOL received numerous awards for this new design, which let members communicate with each other even while browsing the web. It took off so fast that it spread like a rumor in a small community. Just a few months after its release, almost every member of AOL was using instant messaging on a daily basis.
Instant messaging has become the “norm” since its debut in 1997. Every magazine and newspaper in the country had an article on it. Now it is so common that even six year olds are often seen utilizing the instant messenger program in classrooms. Though it is common, new companies are trying to dip their hands in.
Since I.M. became available, other companies have been trying to make similar programs that are compatible with AOL’s Instant messenger. AOL has struck down these ideas every time they occur. AOL has not incurred any legal penalties yet but as time progresses, they may. These other companies are trying to bring lawsuits against AOL saying that the instant messenger technology should be public and not privately owned. AOL has shut the door every time on these people and won. “The courts u...