Novell and AOL Team Up to Bring Instant Messaging to Business Networks

Strategic Insights -

Novell, a network software maker, and America Online (AOL) have announced a partnership to integrate AOL's instant messaging service into Novell's business directory network. This move marks a significant expansion of AOL's presence in the corporate market, a segment that has been at the center of the company's recent instant messaging battles with Microsoft. Under the terms of the agreement, Novell will offer AOL's instant messaging service, known as AIM, to its 80 million users, with about 50 million having access to Novell's Directory Services (NDS) software. The partnership aims to provide businesses with more control and better tools to manage instant messaging, allowing users to trade real-time email securely and tailor the service to their company's needs.

Key Takeaways:

  • Novell and AOL have partnered to integrate AOL's instant messaging service, AIM, into Novell's business directory network, targeting the corporate market.
  • The partnership marks a significant expansion of AOL's presence in the corporate market, a segment at the center of the company's recent instant messaging battles with Microsoft.
  • Novell will offer AIM to its 80 million users, with about 50 million having access to its Directory Services (NDS) software.
  • The partnership aims to provide businesses with more control and better tools to manage instant messaging, allowing users to trade real-time email securely and tailor the service to their company's needs.
  • A key element of the new AIM-incorporated software is its ability to allow business users to trade real-time email securely and tailor the instant messaging services to meet individual company needs.
  • This is the first time Novell will offer instant messaging services to its customers, with a shipping date for the product yet to be determined.
  • Novell spokesman Jonathan Cohen stated that the company is "moving quickly" to incorporate AIM into its NDS software.

Sources:

  • "AOL to Integrate Messaging Service with Novell," Newsbytes.com, http://www.newsbytes.com (August 12, 1999)
  • Reported by Newsbytes.com, featuring an interview with Wendy Goldberg, AOL, 703-265-2359, and Pamela Mahoney, Novell, 408-967-7195

Statistics:

  • 80 million: The number of Novell users who will have access to AOL's instant messaging service, AIM.
  • 50 million: The number of Novell users who have access to its Directory Services (NDS) software.
  • 1999: The year in which Novell and AOL announced their partnership to integrate AIM into Novell's business directory network.
  • August 12: The date on which the partnership was announced.