Even though AOL/Yahoo dropped out of the IM enterprise market two companies want to change that. FaceTime Communications and Akonix want to incorporate AOL"s instant messaging technology into their products. This will be done without the involvement of AOL (to an extent). Already AOL has granted the companies permission. If successful AOL might just change their mind about entering the IM enterprise market.
America Online on Tuesday said it will allow two new companies to develop enterprise software applications using its popular AOL Instant Messenger service.
The online giant said FaceTime Communications and Akonix will be able to incorporate AIM"s instant messaging and online presence technology into its products. The companies also will sell AIM"s application programming interface (API) to businesses that wish to develop their own IM and presence features.
IMLogic struck a similar deal with AOL in February, and already about 100 companies are using its software to develop their own AIM applications, the company said. Tuesday"s announcement highlights AOL"s new strategy of selling AIM technology to corporate customers. The company used to sell AIM directly to corporations, but it scrapped the business in June. AOL and Web portal Yahoo at that time both exited direct enterprise sales to instead focus their attention on their consumer-based services.