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AltaVista and Partners Launch Open Instant Messaging Service

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

AltaVista Company, a leader in new media and commerce networks, is developing a real-time text and voice instant messaging service that will allow users to communicate seamlessly with others across different platforms, including AOL and MSN. The AltaVista Messenger, built on Tribal Voice's PowWow technology, will be released in beta form this winter and will offer features such as interoperable instant messaging, instant voice messaging, and universal buddy lists. This new service aims to advance the spread of open, interoperable, and web-wide communications on the internet.

Key Takeaways:

  • AltaVista Messenger is an interoperable client that allows users to exchange messages in real-time without the use of an email inbox.
  • The service will be developed based on Tribal Voice's PowWow technology and will be compatible with America Online's Instant Messenger (AIM) and Microsoft's MSN Messenger Service, representing over 40 million users worldwide.
  • AltaVista Messenger will offer features such as interoperable instant messaging, instant voice messaging, buddy list consolidator, and file exchange.
  • The service will integrate Novell eDirectory Services for internet management and security.
  • The release of AltaVista Messenger is expected to advance the spread of open and interoperable communications on the internet.
  • AltaVista Messenger is being developed to communicate with AOL's AIM through its previously published public source code and with Microsoft's MSN Messenger Service through its publicly published and sanctioned methods.

Statistics:

  • The new messaging clients will be compatible with over 40 million users worldwide.
  • AltaVista Messenger is expected to offer unequalled features, including interoperable instant text messaging and instant voice messaging.
  • The service will allow users to create their own user profiles, form lists of friends, buddies, and work colleagues, and access web browser directly from the client.
  • The company's PowWow software has more than five million worldwide users participating in over 18,000 communities.

Sources:

  • AltaVista Company press release, Dec. 8, 1999.
  • Tribal Voice press release, Dec. 1, 1999.
  • CMGI, Inc. (Nasdaq:CMGI) press release, Dec. 1, 1999.
  • "About AltaVista Company"
  • "About Tribal Voice"
  • "About CMGI"
  • http://www.altavista.com/

http://www.tribal.com

http://www.cmgi.com

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