September 17, 2003 3:31 PM PDT

Yahoo IM update shuts out third parties

By Matt Hines
Staff Writer, CNET News

Share
- Digg
- Del.icio.us
- Reddit
- Facebook
Email
Print

Related Stories: AOL, Cingular trade IMs
September 15, 2003; AOL, Reuters wired for IM
September 9, 2003; FCC lifts AOL messaging limits
August 20, 2003; Zone Labs branches into IM security
August 12, 2003; Microsoft sets corporate IM pricing
August 11, 2003

Yahoo is planning an upgrade to its instant messaging software that will block access via third-party IM applications such as Trillian.

Yahoo representatives said Wednesday that the company warned users of older versions of its IM client software to upgrade to newer applications or risk getting shut out of its network. Yahoo is giving users until Sept. 24 to install current editions of its software, according to company spokeswoman Mary Osako.

According to Osako, the company is making the move in order to protect IM users from unwanted spamming from advertisers. Osako said it was necessary for Yahoo to continually develop new versions of IM in order to "prevent spammers from potentially hacking into older platforms."

She said only a small percentage of Yahoo's IM user audience need to upgrade: those still operating Yahoo Messenger for Windows 5.0 or older, Yahoo Messenger for Mac 2.0 or older and Yahoo Messenger for Unix 1.02 or older. Most users already have more recent versions of Yahoo Messenger.

However, she did say that the upgrade would likely disable access for all Yahoo Messenger users who access the service via third-party IM client software such as Trillian. Trillian is software that integrates multiple IM clients into a common interface.

"Third-party clients will likely be affected," Osako said. But she added: "We're open and interested in talking with all providers that share our common goal of opening the IM community in a seamless, convenient and secure manner."

Yahoo's announcement comes on the heels of similar news from rival IM software maker Microsoft that it plans to bar third-party client software from gaining access to its MSN Messenger IM applications. On Oct. 15 Trillian users will also lose access to the Microsoft IM client.

Trillian did not return calls requesting comment on the Yahoo announcement.

See more CNET content tagged:
Trillian, Yahoo IM, IM client, IM, Yahoo! Inc.

Add a Comment (Log in or register) 1 comment

yeehaw
by sugar booger November 23, 2005 10:32 PM PST: this girl is finally on vacation; Reply to this comment

Latest tech news headlines

Facebook botnet risk revealed
Posted in News - Security by Elinor Mills

September 6, 2008 1:44 PM PDT
Security firm spots Chrome 'SaveAs' flaw
Posted in News - Security by Jonathan Skillings

September 6, 2008 11:33 AM PDT
At 10 years old, whither Google?
Posted in News - Digital Media by CBS Interactive staff

September 6, 2008 10:15 AM PDT

RSS Feeds

Add headlines from CNET News to your homepage or feedreader.

More feeds available in our RSS feed index.

Inside CNET News

Scroll Left Scroll Right

News - Business Tech
Chrome's JavaScript challenge to Silverlight
The advent of Google's Chrome browser, software pros say, should spur a big speedup for JavaScript, which would raise its standing against Microsoft's Silverlight technology.
Gallery
Photos: Top 10 reviews of the week
Here are CNET Reviews' 10 favorite items from the past week, including the TiVo HD XL, Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H50, and the Dish Network's newest digital TV converter box.
News - Apple
Apple watchers spot 'iPod Nano' pix, iTunes hints
The rumor mill has long been predicting a longer, leaner new version of the iPod Nano, and now it's conjuring up some pictures.
Outside the Lines
EIC Squared: Chrome, iPods, and a Dell-Salesforce union
On this week's EIC Squared podcast CNET's Dan Farber and ZDNet's Larry Dignan discuss Google's latest rocket launch--the Chrome browser--as well as Apple's iPod event next week and a Dell-Salesforce.com union.
Video
Katie Couric reflects on first Webcast
The political conventions are over and so are CBS Evening News anchor Katie Couric's first series of Webcasts. CNET's Kara Tsuboi sat down with Couric on the final night of the Republican National Convention to discuss what she liked about Webcasting, some of her most memorable guests, and whether TV news will still be around by the next round of conventions.
News - Digital Media
At 10 years old, whither Google?
Daniel Sieberg of CBS News looks at how the company grew exponentially from start-up to superstar and part of our culture, but what's ahead?
Video
YouTube plays party politics
During the presidential campaigning four years ago, YouTube didn't even exist. Now it's a tool candidates must master to get their message across. CNET's Kara Tsuboi stops by the YouTube upload booths at the Democratic and Republican conventions to find out why Google's video site has such a big presence in Denver and St. Paul, Minn.
News - Gaming and Culture
Are Demo and TechCrunch50 fragmenting their audiences?
With both events scheduled to start Monday, many press, as well as venture capitalists and others are having to choose which one to attend.
News - Cutting Edge
Execs predict next Google-like tech
On eve of company's 10-year anniversary, researchers and business pundits speculate about what technologies might someday have as much impact as Google.
Gallery
Images: The art of 'Spore' prototypes
Will Wright and his Maxis team worked on dozens of prototypes to test the elements of their soon-to-be-released evolution game. Here's a sampling.
Webware
Mozilla releases second Firefox 3.1 alpha
Added features include support for a new video tag element introduced with the HTML 5 standard, along with some speed enhancements.
Green Tech
Duke Energy to invest in mini solar power plants
Can hundreds of rooftop solar panels collectively operate like a central power plant? Duke Energy launches $100 million distributed solar program to find out.