Until then, those using both had to run both programs simultaneously. AOL immediately set to blocking users of the dual-access Microsoft product. After numerous skirmishes, AOL seems to be holding its perimeter for now.
Instant messaging is worth the fuss.
It's a nifty program that lets any user on a given system send a message and have it pop up instantly on the screen of anyone else logged onto that system. A group of Internet engineers already is working on a standard and expects to have a rough draft by the end of the year. AOL announced last week that it is pulling together industry heavyweights to contribute to that process. But for now, AOL owns the goose that lays the golden eggs. Microsoft, whose message software has about 700,000 users, points out that it's not as if its users are on AOL's network uninvited.