Reuters, Microsoft, AOL To Launch Interoperable IM Service For Traders

Updated: read below: Reuters is tying up with Microsoft and AOL to launch interoperability with their IM services, with an intent to focus on the financial tradering community, paidContent.org has learned. The announcement is set for Monday morning, with Reuters CEO Tom Glocer and Jeff Raikes, president of Microsoft’s business division participating in the conference call. (The conference call link is here)

Reuters Messaging, the enterprise IM division within Reuters which was launched in 2002, is the one driving this. The Reuters IM platform is already using MSFT’s IM platform.

This deal brings together Reuters IM with MSN Messenger and AOL Messenger, with the supposed ability to share address books and contact lists, and will be in compliance with all SEC and regulatory rules…not sure of the exact technical implementation details of this, but we’ll find out on Monday…

Updated: Business Online UK is reporting the same thing: Microsoft has been working on a project to overcome the compliance problems that have prevented its MSN Messenger service being used by financial institutions, and this tie-up will allow them to. “Traders will only be able to gain access through their Reuters messaging system but will have access to their MSN Messenger contacts and their contacts on AOL Messenger. This means that they can talk to business contacts outside the City as well as family and friends. The system would continue to generate an audit trail for compliance departments.”

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