Other IM programs don't require that--users of AOL Instant Messenger, for instance, might have a totally different IM name than their e-mail address, or might not even have an AOL account at all.

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In approving the merger last month, the FCC ordered AOL to comply with several IM checks.

CNN: AOL rivals team on IM interoperability

In setting the conditions that apply to IM, the FCC was concerned that AOL Time Warner could use Time Warner's cable networks to extend its current dominance in text-based IM into new "advanced" IM services that will include multimedia components such as video conferencing.

CNN: AOL rivals team on IM interoperability

Ferris predicts it will take about 2 years for AOL to lose its stranglehold on the IM market.

CNN: AOL rivals team on IM interoperability

Although many observers predict that AOL would try to bring the ICQ users onto the IM platform, a company spokeswoman acknowledged that the two sets of users are very different and said the company does not plan to force one group to migrate from one system to the other.

CNN: AOL tests linking of instant messenger services

In addition, Ferris has no doubt that AOL will "cave in" to the interoperability demands of other IM vendors.

CNN: AOL rivals team on IM interoperability

If it chooses the latter course of action, AOL Time Warner must have entered into at least one such contract at the time it enters the advanced IM business, followed by two more contracts with rivals 180 days later.

CNN: AOL rivals team on IM interoperability