Microsoft and RIM develop IM solutions

CNET News.com has reported that  Microsoft is developing Instant Messaging tools for business.  It also looks like Research in Motion, the creators of Blackberry, have similar plans in mind and are developing their own Instant Messaging client.  They may even be first out the gate with their offering although I doubt very much that Microsoft are too worried about that.  The sense I get lately is that Microsoft have grown to the point where they don’t need to be first out the gate.  They’ll release their product when they are ready and they will still act as if they came up with the idea first.

Update:

It looks like I misread this article.  While Microsoft and RIM are working on their own solutions, RIM has done a deal with Microsoft as well as with IBM and Novell to take instant messaging even further.  According to ComputerWeekly.com –

Microsoft is extending its Microsoft Office Live Communications Server 2005 capabilities to instant messaging on mobile devices.

The company is developing a new mobile Live Communications Server 2005 client for Windows Mobile-based devices to deliver the extra connectivity.

It is based on the user interface of the Microsoft Office Communicator 2005 messaging client.

…

Microsoft said a beta version of the instant messaging client would be available in the second half of 2005.

The company has also signed an agreement with push e-mail solutions provider RIM to jointly develop an enterprise instant messaging client for Blackberry mobile devices supported by Live Communications Server, which should be available by the end of the year.

(via ITWeb)