by , 4:00 PM EDT, May 6th, 2002
Apple previewed Mac OS X 10.2 today, and one of the features introduced is iChat, a system-wide IM client to be built into Mac OS X 10.2. Code named "Jaguar," Mac OS X 10.2 is scheduled to be released in the "late summer." iChat is based on AIM, AOL's very popular instant messaging client, and Apple worked with the company to develop iChat. According to live coverage of today's keynote at MacCentral, Steve Jobs said: "[It's the] First time AOL has let anyone under the tent."
iChat will also use a new networking protocol being introduced by Apple called Rendezvous. The technology allows computers on a network to find each other, a huge step forward in end user-simplicity. Apple will use Rendezvous in iChat to allow users to find and chat with each other across networks. There will also be cross-integration with Mail, as well as a new system-wide version of Address Book. iChat users will be able to manage their chat sessions from the Mac OS X menubar. From Apple:
Apple® today previewed iChat, an Apple developed AIM-compatible instant messaging client that will be included with the next major release of Mac® OS X, code-named "Jaguar," available to customers late this summer. AIM is one of the most popular instant messaging communities with more than 150 million registered users. iChat will be built into "Jaguar" and features an elegant Aqua interface, allowing seamless instant messaging between Mac.com members, AOL members and AOL® Instant Messenger™ (AIM) users. Mac users can use their existing Mac.com names with iChat or get a free Mac.com name in seconds if they don't already have one.
"We're very excited about bringing Mac users into the broader AOL community with the first fully compatible integration of another user base with AIM and AOL Buddy List users," said Bob Pittman, Chief Operating Officer-elect of AOL Time Warner. "This will make it possible for Mac users to communicate within our network using their existing Mac.com identities. We look forward to working together with Apple on other innovative offerings."
"iChat lets Mac OS X users join the best instant messaging community in the world," said Steve Jobs, Apple's CEO. "Together with AOL, we're making it possible for iChat users to exchange instant messages with over 150 million people, all using their Mac.com names."
AIM, AOL Buddy List and Mac.com users can use their existing screen name or "handle." The Mac OS X version of iChat allows users to quickly see and change their online status and communicate with buddies from the menu bar. The Mail application in Mac OS X shows online status of buddies, allowing users to instantly turn e-mail exchanges into real time chats. And, the new system-wide Address Book manages buddy information including name, handle and photo along with the rest of their contact information.
iChat's innovative use of Aqua delivers a great new user experience for instant messaging. iChat uses "dialogue bubbles" and buddy photos to present instant messages in a graphically conversational manner. iChat invitations pop on the screen in a simple and non-intrusive way using transparency and animation effects. iChat users can also automatically discover and chat with other iChat users on their local Ethernet or AirPort® networks.
You can find more information on the WWDC at Apple's Web site. Join in on the discussion about iChat in our forums.
It's interesting to see Apple borrowing a page from Microsoft and embedding iChat into the OS. This is, in fact, the type of behavior that has gotten Microsoft in trouble. It's an attempt to leverage the OS to gain market share in another market, in this case the IM market. The difference is that Microsoft is a monopoly, and as such is not necessarily entitled to the same sort of freedom to incorporate features into its OS as it would otherwise be. This is especially true when the soul reason is to leverage itself more market share in a new market, as both Apple and Microsoft are doing.
Apple, on the other hand, is a niche player in the OS market, and has that freedom, though it will be interesting to see if this comes up in Microsoft's ongoing antitrust trial. It has to gall some in Redmond to see Apple doing what Microsoft is literally being accused of doing.
Another galling thing to some in Redmond would be the choice of AOL's AIM network as a partner with this iChat endeavor. Don't think for a moment that Microsoft wouldn't love to have its own MSN Messenger driving iChat. Apple has been cozying up to AOL for months, it seems, going so far as to recently feature Netscape in the Dock in a Mac OS X advert instead of Internet Explorer, the company's official default browser. There could be some things going on behind the scenes that make for entertaining discussion.