AIM, Google Talk integration starts working
updated 09:30 am EDT, Mon May 16, 2011
AIM and Google Talk now working directly
AIM users have reported that an expected direct federation between AIM chats and Google Talk is now working properly. Any message from an AIM user can go through by messaging someone at their Gmail address, and Google Talk users can do the same by messaging someone's screen name with "@aol.com" attached. Messages not only skip any lag in the network hop but include typing notifications, and status updates show for contacts on both sides.
The two services have already had a level of integration in 2007, but it required that Google Talk users sign into AIM at the same time and only had limited support. AIM's new compatibility now lets users talk to each other directly without needing an alternate login and a truly two-way interaction.
Cross-network chat should already be working in any app, including third-party clients like Pidgin or Trillian and mobile apps. Features like audio or video chat don't work and aren't known to be getting interoperability anytime soon.
