Users savage Microsoft and Yahoo IM interoperability

Stan Beer
Saturday, 15 July 2006 16:42

Your IT - Home IT

Early reports from users on the ground have been highly critical about a number of usability aspects of the interoperability trial between Windows Live Messenger and Yahoo Messenger.

Users have complained that the software upgrade process is clumsy and not intuitive. Some users have pointed out difficulties in transferring contact lists between the two services. Others have complained that the service does not notify contacts that they need to upgrade to the new service if they want to be able to message each other.

Some users have complained that the functionality of the cross platform system is bare bones, lacking the ability to share files, not to mention voice contact.

What users are asking in a nutshell is why aren't the two companies developing a messaging platform which provides a transparent upgrade path for both messaging systems and which enables users to communicate seamlessly with users of the older versions of both systems.

As both Microsoft and Yahoo have pointed out this is only a beta trial. However, until the two companies can make the process of the two messaging systems talking to each other a no brainer for users, the dream of a 350 million strong messaging community will remain just that.