Looking to shed weight and beef up a sleek new image as a Web-based media company, AOL is attempting to sell off its social networking site Bebo and instant messaging system ICQ.

FORBES: AOL Aims To Shoot Messenger, Boot Bebo

But the catch with alternative instant messaging services is that each one is a closed system.

CNN: One-third of Americans prefer texts to voice calls

He went on to found several tech companies and launch groundbreaking products, including a voice recognition system Interpath in 1981, McAfee in 1988, and the instant messaging pioneer Tribal Voice in 1996.

CNN: STORY HIGHLIGHTS

He went on to found several tech companies and to launch groundbreaking products, including the voice-recognition system Interpath Inc. in 1981, McAfee in 1988, and the instant messaging pioneer Tribal Voice in 1996.

CNN: STORY HIGHLIGHTS

On its website, Amesys says its "strategic nationwide interception" system can detect email from Hotmail, Yahoo and Gmail and see chat conversations on MSN instant messaging and AIM.

WSJ: Foreign Firms Helped Gadhafi Spy on Libyans