Yahoo, AOL Push Phone-Over-IM

AOL has opened the programming interface to AIM Call Out, which should make it easier to develop products that use AIM for making calls over the Internet, while Yahoo is moving its similar Yahoo Messenger-based Internet phone service to the Jajah platform.AOL's Open Voice application programming interface could enable the development of phones that make calls over AOL's network. AOL does charge for using its Call Out service, but "our offering and our rates are competitive with traditional landline and mobile carriers, as well as other VoIP carriers in the space," said Brent Newsome, director of AOL's voice services.

Meanwhile, Yahoo has reached an agreement with Internet phoning pioneer Jajah by which Yahoo's Phone In and Phone Out features will run on the Jajah service starting later this year. Jajah will also handle payment processing and customer support.CNET News, CNET News