Just think, though... (Score 1)

I distinctly remember a time when people with certain email servers couldn't send emails to each other; my mother used to complain about how she couldn't email people in the AOL network (or was it outside?) and now those barriers are completely down. If this is any indication, instant messenging will take a similar direction. The current trend of closed networks will still have some momentum for a while (mainly thanks to users who are stuck in "unbreakable" routines), but give it time.