Juno Online Services Inc has followed the lead of rival internet service providers EarthLink Network Inc and MindSpring Enterprises Inc in collaborating with America Online Inc on a co-branded version of AOL Instant Messenger (AIM). AIM first became a pawn in the escalating battle between AOL and Microsoft Corp when Microsoft released its own messaging application, capable of accessing AIM’s Buddy Lists. AOL has blocked the Microsoft product, ostensibly on the grounds that it may constitute a security risk to the AIM user community. Microsoft has responded with calls for AOL to embrace open standards in internet messaging. The deals with Juno, EarthLink and MindSpring may be intended to bolster AIM’s market share at the expense of Microsoft’s rival product.
