Microsoft plans to block Lycos IM users

Lycos Instant Messenger users may no longer be able to communicate with users of MSN Messenger after October 15. Microsoft is making some big changes to its Instant Messaging (IM) network. Starting this month, the company plans to lock out unauthorised third party messaging programs, including those from Lycos and Trillian. Microsoft is telling its users to upgrade their Messenger software. Users of MSN Messenger will have to upgrade to version 5 or higher, while Windows Messenger customers need to move up to version 4.7. If you don’t upgrade you won’t be able to use Microsoft IM. MSN claims the decision has been taken for security reasons and insists only a small number of users will be affected. Lycos is unhappy about Microsoft's changes and its technical team is currently working to develop a version of Lycos Messenger that will work with MSN Messenger 6.0. Lycos UK MD Alex Kovach argues: “We think it’s important that IM services work with each other. Users shouldn’t have to run two or three different email clients to keep in contact with their mates. It’s like having a mobile phone and only being able to talk to people on the same network.” A spokesperson from Trillian - the popular software that lets you communicate with people on AOL, ICQ, Yahoo and MSN’s IM services from one interface - said they’re eager to work with Microsoft on interoperability between IM software. The hoo-hah over different IM programs working with each other has been going on for years. When Microsoft first launched MSN Messenger back in 1999 it could talk to both AOL and MSN networks and interoperability was seen as a key feature. Oh what a difference four years makes.