Instant messaging becomes competitive and merger issue

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

SPRINGFIELD, Va. -- America Online Inc., under pressure to open its massive instant messaging network to competitors, announced Thursday that it supports the creation of a worldwide messaging standard.

Critics said the announcement lacked substance. Since last year, AOL has electronically blocked attempts by competitors -- most notably Microsoft's MSN service -- to access AOL's messaging network.

Competitors have argued that instant messages, like e-mail, should flow freely between online services for all to use, and that AOL's attitude violates the spirit of the Internet.

AOL's stance on instant messaging has been raised at both the Federal Trade Commission and the Federal Communications Commission in connection with AOL's proposed purchase of Time Warner.

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