By Jim Hu, 27 February 2003 09:53
NEWS Mobile phone company Ericsson is to begin testing a wireless instant messaging system that will interoperate with those of other providers. The Stockholm-based company's trials will focus on its Instant Messaging and Presence Services (IMPS) software, which allows subscribers to exchange real-time text messages with other users logged into the service. A number of wireless customers have signed on to the trials, including Ecrio, Magic4, MessageVine, Motorola, Ruksun Software Technologies and Sony Ericsson. Ericsson's IMPS network will be interoperable for all mobile users regardless of service provider, network or device manufacturer, the company said. Instant messaging has become one of the most popular internet applications on the PC desktop, allowing users to send real-time text messages, create online chat forums, collaborate on shared files and even make PC-to-PC phone calls. Although internet giants AOL, MSN and Yahoo have amassed millions of users onto their respective services, their networks remain proprietary, and the companies have seen little reason to allow their users to talk to one another. Instant messaging technology also serves as a tool for determining "presence" - that is, who's online at any given time. Witnessing the popularity of instant messaging on the PC, mobile phone services have launched messaging services of their own. Short Message Service (SMS) has become popular among mobile phone users in Europe, but has yet to catch on in the US. The major IM providers have also begun to launch mobile versions of their service. AOL and Yahoo recently struck deals to let users send IM messages to cell phones. Jim Hu writes for News.com
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