Microsoft and Yahoo! will let users of their instant-messaging services communicate with each other starting today. "It looks like this is a preemptive strike against Google Talk," said research analyst Timothy M. Boyd of Caris & Co. The partnership between the nation's second- and third-largest IM providers presents an immediate threat to the longtime leader, AOL, said analyst Joe Wilcox of JupiterResearch. "It's two against one now," he said. (USA Today).
To send messages to buddies on Yahoo, you need download the Windows Live Messenger (beta) and sign in with your MSN passport on ideas.live.com.