Yahoo & MSN Messengers join forces

Yahoo! and Microsoft today announced a landmark agreement to connect users of their consumer instant messaging (IM) services on a global basis.

Microsoft stated that the interoperability agreement between the two IM providers will give both, MSN Messenger and Yahoo! Messenger users, the ability to interact with each other, forming what is expected to be the largest consumer IM community in the world, estimated to be more than 275 million in strength.

According to Microsoft, both companies share a commitment to provide IM interoperability while keeping consumer security and privacy first and foremost. In addition to exchanging instant messages, consumers from both communities will now be able to see their friends' online presence, share select emoticons, and easily add new contacts from either service to their friends' list, all as part of their free IM service. The companies say that the interconnectivity capabilities will be available to customers around the world in the second quarter of 2006.