Reuters Provides Gateway From Professional IM to AOL's Messaging
Reuters has announced an agreement with AOL to provide access from their professionally-oriented secure messaging system and AOL Instant Messenger (AIM) service. The upcoming version of the Reuters Messaging client will allow their users to communicate with colleagues and customers that use the AIM and ICQ instant messaging services. In addition, AOL instant messaging users will have the ability to add Reuters Messaging users to their AOL buddy lists. This is an important step forward for Reuters' attempts to breathe life into their new messaging service, which lacks the market authority of Bloomberg's long-established messaging service. Bloomberg's service gained enormously from its ability to interface with public email systems, allowing people to receive key business content from financial partners and clients without requiring them to use a Bloomberg system. With the increasing difficulties associated with emails, secure IM channels allow many of the same advantages for professionals with fewer disadvantages. Expect content on serious financial deals to start flowing through Reuters channels as it gains in Bloomberg-like universality.