[Paul K]

BBC

Users of the Yahoo and Microsoft instant messaging programs can now contact each other directly.
The two firms have released software that ties the two networks into a huge community of 350 million users.
The trial software allows people to swap text messages but will eventually let people talk to each other too.
The move marks a break with the past when operators of the big instant message systems resisted calls to open up their networks.

About flippin time
Windows Live Messenger

Soon: Talk to your Yahoo! friends, too
The world's largest IM network is about to get bigger--and better! Soon you'll be able to talk to your friends who use Yahoo! Messenger with Voice. You'll be able to see when they're online and communicate with them directly from Windows Live Messenger.

Yahoo Messenger Beta 8

Yahoo! Messenger with Voice Beta (version 8)
Enjoy the best IM experience on the net
Free PC-to-PC calls* — call regular phones for
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IM with Windows Live™ (MSN) Messenger friends** (Join now)
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