Editing Instant messaging (section)

=== History and agreements ===
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| quote = Critics say AOL's slowness in embracing interoperability has caused setbacks to other companies trying to grow their businesses. AOL has said it supports the development of an interoperable system for all IM networks but has cited privacy and security concerns as the reasons it's taking its time. Competitors have labeled that argument a "smoke screen."
| author = Evan Hansen
| source = [[CNET]], January 2001<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cnet.com/tech/services-and-software/aol-time-warner-complete-merger-with-fcc-blessing/|title=AOL, Time Warner complete merger with FCC blessing|website=CNET}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.zdnet.com/home-and-office/networking/green-light-for-aol-time-warner-merger/|title=Green light for AOL-Time Warner merger|website=ZDNET}}</ref>
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In the early 2000s, when instant messaging was quickly growing, most attempts at producing a unified standard for the-then major IM providers ([[AOL]], [[Yahoo!]], [[Microsoft]]) had failed. There was a "bitter row" between AOL and its rivals regarding the opening up of their networks.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2002-12-19 |title=AOL wins instant messaging case |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/2591723.stm |access-date=2024-08-06 |language=en-GB}}</ref> In 2000, U.S. regulatory [[Federal Communications Commission]] (FCC) proposed, and supported by Microsoft chairman [[Bill Gates]], that AOL providing interoperability of its [[AIM (software)|AIM]] and [[ICQ]] instant messengers with Microsoft's [[MSN Messenger]] was a condition for the forthcoming [[AOL Time Warner|AOL-Time Warner merger]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Gates Adds His Voice To Instant Messaging |url=https://www.forbes.com/2000/12/20/1220messaging.html |access-date=2024-08-06 |website=Forbes |language=en}}</ref>

However, in 2004, Microsoft, Yahoo! and AOL agreed to a deal in which Microsoft's enterprise IM server [[Live Communications Server 2005]] would have the possibility to talk to their rival counterparts and vice versa.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Hicks |first=Matthew |date=2004-07-15 |title=Microsoft Opens IM Server to AOL, Yahoo |url=https://www.eweek.com/enterprise-apps/microsoft-opens-im-server-to-aol-yahoo/ |access-date=2024-08-06 |website=eWeek |language=en-US}}</ref> On October 13, 2005, Microsoft and Yahoo! announced that their IM networks would soon be interoperable, using SIP/SIMPLE. This was finally rolled out to [[Windows Live Messenger]] and [[Yahoo! Messenger]] users in July 2006.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Microsoft, Yahoo connect IM services |url=https://www.cnet.com/tech/services-and-software/microsoft-yahoo-connect-im-services/ |access-date=2024-08-06 |website=CNET |language=en}}</ref> Additionally, in December 2005 by the AOL and [[Google]] strategic partnership deal, it was announced that AIM and ICQ users would be able to communicate with [[Google Talk]] users.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Bylund |first=Anders |date=2005-12-21 |title=Google buys 5 percent of AOL; Google Talk and AIM to chat it up |url=https://arstechnica.com/uncategorized/2005/12/5814-2/ |access-date=2024-08-06 |website=Ars Technica |language=en-us}}</ref> However this feature took until December 2007 to roll out.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Schwartz |first=Barry |date=2007-12-05 |title=Google Talk Meets AOL Instant Messager: Time Warner & Google Complete AIM Integration Deal |url=https://searchengineland.com/google-talk-meets-aol-instant-messager-time-warner-google-complete-aim-integration-deal-12853 |access-date=2024-08-06 |website=Search Engine Land |language=en}}</ref> [[XMPP]] provided the best example of open protocol interoperability, having had gateways that connected to Google Talk, [[Lotus Sametime]] and others.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Jabber gateway aims to link XMPP, SIMPLE |url=https://www.infoworld.com/article/2206683/jabber-gateway-aims-to-link-xmpp-simple.html |access-date=2024-08-06 |website=InfoWorld |language=en-US}}</ref>

Later, [[Rich Communication Services|RCS]] was developed by telecommunication companies as an instant messaging protocol to replace [[SMS]] under a unified standard. In 2022, the European Union passed the [[Digital Markets Act]], which largely came into effect in early 2023. Among other things, the legislation mandates certain interoperability between the largest IM platforms in use in Europe.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Claburn |first=Thomas |title=EU mandated interoperable messaging not so simple: Paper |url=https://www.theregister.com/2023/03/29/eu_mandated_messaging_interop_paper/ |access-date=2023-11-11 |website=www.theregister.com |language=en}}</ref> As a result, in March 2024, [[Meta Platforms]] opened up its WhatsApp and [[Facebook Messenger|Messenger]] networks to be interoperable.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Jowitt |first=Tom |date=2024-03-13 |title=Meta Messaging Interoperability Whatsapp, Messenger |url=https://www.silicon.co.uk/mobility/mobile-apps/meta-adds-messaging-interoperability-for-whatsapp-messenger-554502 |access-date=2024-08-06 |website=Silicon UK |language=en-GB}}</ref>