IM Clients & Platforms
MySpace has also jumped on the IM bandwagon with the beta launch of "MySpaceIM", MySpace's instant messaging service. The MySpaceIM client can be downloaded directly to your computer allowing you to add their network of friends. Rather than showing an instant messaging display name, MySpaceIM users view the profiles of their friends as their log-in.

The Google Talk gadget has been updated to include a new group chat messaging feature. Using the Google Talk Gadget users can now opt to start a conversation and then invite additional friends or contacts from their list into the conversation. If those users who have been invited are using the Gmail chat or the downloadable Google Talk client, their invitation will launch the Google Talk Gadget. For those using Google Apps you can also now use the Google Talk Gadget on your Start Page.

AOL has recently introduced its free, Web-based e-mail service with full AIM integration into beta form, allowing users to access AOL e-mail and IM from within the same application. Some AIM functionality users will find in the beta version of Web Mail include AlertTabbed multiple conversations, buddy status and display options, the capability to add or delete buddies, custom away messages, choose an invisible status and more.

Web-based IM
In other news, AOL launched the new AIM WIMZI Widget that enables bloggers, Web site owners and consumers with social networking profiles to instant message easily and anonymously with their site visitors. WIMZI workd by communicating with the widget owner's AIM client, which is directly integrated with the owner's AIM Buddy List feature to initiate an IM conversation when the owner is signed on to AIM. A widget owner's online presence status is indicated with a highlighted icon and screen names and identities are protected through customized owner and visitor aliases. The widget is customizable in either Adobe Flash or Sun Javascript.

MovaMessenger beta now available for testing.

Mobile IM (MIM)
U.K.-based MovaFone Communications released a public beta version of MovaMessenger, a mobile instant messaging application, available to mobile consumers worldwide. The new java-based application provides mobile consumers with open access to the most common instant messaging services including MSN/Live Messenger, Yahoo, AIM/iChat, Google Talk, ICQ, Jabber and others. MovaMessenger is designed to allow mobile consumers to chat with buddies on different IM networks in real time and simultaneously within the MovaMessenger client. MovaMessenger also supports emoticons, contact list management, sound (or vibration) alerts, along with presence support and control.

IM Security & Research
Akonix Systems' IM Security Center researchers say they have tracked 36 malicious code attacks over IM networks during the month of June, which represents an 80 percent increase over May, bringing the total number of threats for the first half of 2007 to 206. New IM worms identified include Checkout, Impard, MSNHideOptions, Mubla and VB-DVQ. Vanebot was the most common with four variants, followed by QQPass with three. There were also seven attacks this month on P2P networks, such as Kazaa and eDonkey.

In IM research and studies this week, Gartner analysts (as reported by internetnews.com) say it is expected that by by 2013, 95 percent of employees will use IM as their de facto tool for voice, video and text chat. Currently, Gartner pegs the use of IM in businesses at around 25 percent, but is forecasting near 100 percent levels by 2010. The revenues flowing into the enterprise IM market are forecast by Gartner to hit $688 million by 2010, up from only $267 million in 2005.

Have an interesting bit of Instant Messaging news or event information you'd like to contribute to the IM News & Trends Watch? Tell us about it.

IM News & Trends Watch Archives:

• Week of June 19, 2007
• Week of June 05, 2007
• Week of May 15, 2007
• Week of May 01, 2007