Other Shoe on Google Talk

I can imagine the responses now:

Microsoft: Hey Google how's it going. Open our IM network to your client? Well, we've pretty much resisted every possible effort to that from not only the majors but every piddly startup that gets the idea, but seeing as to how you are one of our most serious competitors and all, well... just kidding. NO. And don't go crying to Justice.

Yahoo: fuck off

AOL: Google, I think we should have a talk. I was happy when we were partnering on search and mobile, but I'm getting a little uncomfortable with you getting into IM. I thought we were friends and all, now I hear you going behind my back and telling Shaniqua that your getting all up in my IM and you don't care what anyone thinks. Whateva.

Link: John Battelle's Searchblog: Other Shoe on Google Talk.

"WE'RE WORKING ON IT." "Our network will be open. We want to make all instant messaging networks interoperable," Harik says. Users of other IM clients would be able to connect friends to Google Talk just by adding their Gmail user names. No agreements have been struck yet. "We don't know what their reaction will be," Harik says.