Microsoft and Yahoo! link their instant messaging services
{{date|July 13, 2006}}

Nine months after announcing the interoperability between their [[w:instant messaging & messengers|instant messaging]] (IM) services, Internet rivals [[Microsoft]] and [[Yahoo|Yahoo!]] began limited public [[w:Software release life cycle|beta]] (pre-release) testing of the program. This enables users of the two services to communicate with each other using their existing IM client, Microsoft's [[w:Windows Live Messenger|Windows Live Messenger]] (formerly MSN Messenger) and [[w:Yahoo! Messenger|Yahoo! Messenger with Voice]].

Users wishing to use the new feature can go to a special page on the service's website, where they have to review and accept an agreement. After signing out and signing in again, the interoperability is enabled without downloading any new software.

The service is designed to allow users to see each others' online presence, view personal status messages, share select emoticons, view offline messages and add new contacts from either service. However, more advanced features, like voice calls and shared folders are not interoperable between the two services.

The program is available internationally in more than 15 markets.

==Related news==
*{{wikinews|title=Microsoft and Yahoo team up to make IM clients compatible|date=October 12, 2005}}

==Sources==
*{{source|url=http://www.mess.be/|title=No invitation required to Yahoo! + Windows Live Messenger marriage|author=dwergs|pub=Mess with MSN Messenger|date=July 13, 2006}}
*{{source|url=http://news.com.com/Microsoft,+Yahoo+connect+IM+services/2100-1032_3-6093579.html?tag=nefd.top|title=Microsoft, Yahoo connect IM services|author=Elinor Mills|pub=CNET Networks|date=July 12, 2006}}
*{{source|url=http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/press/2006/jul06/07-12IMInteropPR.mspx|title=Yahoo! and Microsoft Bridge Global Instant Messaging Communities|author=|pub=Microsoft PressPass|date=July 12, 2006}}
*{{source|url=http://messengersays.spaces.msn.com/blog/cns!5B410F7FD930829E!18718.entry|title=Talk to your Yahoo! friends from Windows Live Messenger|author=Dan M.|pub=Windows Live Messenger|date=July 12, 2006}} ('''Blog''')

==External links==
*[http://ideas.live.com/programpage.aspx?versionId=7adb59de-a857-45ba-81cc-685ee3e858fe Windows Live sign-up site]
*[http://messenger.yahoo.com/partners_msn.php Yahoo! sign-up site]

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[[Category:Computing]]
[[Category:Economy and business]]
[[Category:Microsoft]]
[[Category:Internet]]
[[Category:Yahoo!]]
Nine months after announcing the interoperability between their instant messaging (IM) services, Internet rivals Microsoft and Yahoo! began limited public beta (pre-release) testing of the program. This enables users of the two services to communicate with each other using their existing IM client, Microsoft's Windows Live Messenger (formerly MSN Messenger) and Yahoo! Messenger with Voice.

Users wishing to use the new feature can go to a special page on the service's website, where they have to review and accept an agreement. After signing out and signing in again, the interoperability is enabled without downloading any new software.

The service is designed to allow users to see each others' online presence, view personal status messages, share select emoticons, view offline messages and add new contacts from either service. However, more advanced features, like voice calls and shared folders are not interoperable between the two services.

The program is available internationally in more than 15 markets.
Computing Economy and business Microsoft Internet Yahoo!