New MSN Messenger to Slap AOL

Microsoft is close to launching a massive upgrade for its MSN Messenger software, that according to the News.com report, is aimed at slapping AOL into joining the effort for a universal messaging protocol. ActiveWin told News.com reporters that the new version will implement messaging compatibility with Yahoo Messenger right away, with file transfer and other features coming shortly thereafter.

Officials at Odigo also said MSN compatibility was ready to go and could be implemented immediately.

Version 4 of MSN Messenger is expected sometime in March/April, and could really push AOL into joining the IMUnified cause for a single IM protocol. Netizens have been pushing for a single protocol heavily for a long time now, with companies like Yahoo and Odigo joining the fight after AOL banned interoperability on more than one occassion last year.

Stay tuned as the story develops and IMUnified continues to battle with AOL.