[WEB4LIB] Re: Instant Messengers for library

[Thomas Dowling]

> I've reviewed several and had settled on ICQ (I Seek You) as being the
> easiest and most feature packed.  I believe it to also be the most used
> which isn't a problem as long as they keep their servers as robust as
> they seem to be now.
>

Did AOL (owners of ICQ) ever decide to play nice and let Microsoft's
messenging client access their servers?

As of a month ago, ICQ, AOL, and the Instant Messenger protocol were the
eye of an open standards storm, with AOL looking like hypocritical
monopolists, and Microsoft--of all people--looking like the much set upon
advocate of open standards.  I haven't heard how or whether the situation
resolved itself, but if you're going to use the ICQ servers, you may be
inadvertantly cutting off access from anyone with the MS messenging
client.

Thomas Dowling
OhioLINK - Ohio Library and Information Network
tdowling at ohiolink.edu