AOL Shuts Down Trillian Users

http://www.zdnet.com/anchordesk/stories/story/0,10738,2844439,00.html
from JoeUser Forums
AOL shuts out users in battle over IM

By Lisa M. Bowman
Special to ZDNet News
January 30, 2002, 5:20 PM PT

People using the popular Trillian software may lose access to part of AOL Time Warner's instant messaging system.

Firing another salvo in the battle over instant messaging, America Online is blocking people using the Trillian interface from linking to its AOL Instant Messenger (AIM) system.

Trillian, which allows people to access multiple instant messaging programs from one screen, has attracted nearly a million people who are hoping to streamline their use of incompatible systems, including AOL's AIM and ICQ, Yahoo's Messenger and Microsoft's MSN Messenger.

But in the past 24 hours, an elaborate game of cat and mouse has developed between AOL and Trillian creator Cerulean Studios--as the start-up has repeatedly released new software designed to get around the block, prompting AOL to rush in and stop people from using it.

Meanwhile, Trillian fans are snared in cross fire.

"AOL is being selfish," Trillian user Mike Cicciarelli said in an instant messaging exchange with News.com.

Trillian user Chris Hilbert said he's downloaded new software several times in the past day in an attempt to re-establish access with AIM. Hilbert said he uses Trillian because it's simple.

"I like that there are no ads, less bloat," said Hilbert, an Indiana University student and creator of the FileFlash Web site. "I don't have to have four different clients open."

But AOL said it's a matter of security and is framing the conflict as yet another chapter in the instant messaging wars. In recent years, AOL has clashed with other makers of IM software, including Microsoft and AT&T. Both companies tried to create systems that let people correspond with AIM users--only to have them blocked.

"It has long been our very public policy that when a service unleashes software that hacks into our system, and endangers the security of our system, we stop it," AOL spokeswoman Kathy McKiernan said.

McKiernan said that Trillian does not have a business relationship with AOL. "To the extent that consumers think they do, they were misled," McKiernan said.

Meanwhile, the creators of Trillian plan to keep up the tit-for-tat efforts. Since AOL first started blocking the software Tuesday, they have released one workaround and at least two more full downloads of Trillian.

Michael Gartenberg, a research director at Jupiter Media Metrix, called AOL's practice "predatory," but he said at least the media behemoth is consistent in blocking both large and small companies from accessing its system.

"There are no technical reasons they can't open up IM, but there are a lot of business reasons not to," Gartenberg said. "They're not going to unless they're forced to."

News.com's Evan Hansen contributed to this report.

http://zdnet.com.com/2100-11-826707.html

http://www.zdnet.com/anchordesk/stories/story/0,10738,2844439,00.html

12,964 views 43 replies
Reply #1 from JoeUser Forums Top
Dave Coursey put so much lapdog brown-nosing in that article I can't help but to want to shower right now.

AOL, the king of intrusive software, is upset about Trillian accessing its network? Gee, I was told my AIM account was FREE. If they're so pissed about potential lost revenue fro ads, they can feel free to email them to me. Who SEES the ads on AIM, anyway?

Let me make a prediction for the future: AOL will purchase Cerulean Studios, folding it into the the main company. Trillian will become AOL's new official instant messenger, and then AOL will be the one pushing itself onto other networks, such as Yahoo's and MSN's.

AOL: The true monopoly of the computer industry.
Reply #2 from JoeUser Forums Top
Though you may be right about AOL purchasing Trillian, I doubt that they will make Trillian their official instant messager. It would send a message saying that their Instant Messanger was/is inferior and I doubt they would do it because of that and may other reasons.
Elemental: Reforged
Reply #3 from JoeUser Forums Top
I also find it interesting that David Coursey in the past used to support using AIM services by other products ( http://www.zdnet.com/anchordesk/stories/story/0,10738,2713301,00.html). Now he has reversed his opinion and sides with AOL.
Reply #4 from JoeUser Forums Top
It's still working with ICQ, but I guess that'll be next.
Reply #6 from JoeUser Forums Top
AOL should rename themselves 'M&M Enterprises'....[from Catch 22].

I only used AIM once or twice....trying out the functions of Trillian.
Johanne, Renato [you two were my only contacts on AIM]....if you need to catch me it'll be on ICQ....
AOL and AIM can go-jump....
Reply #7 from JoeUser Forums Top
I have one last friend that I haven't moved off of the AOL network yet. She's just so damned stubborn. But once she's off it's C-YA to anything AOL. I've moved 11 people off that idiotic system and I'll keep encouraging people to move off/stay away from it. People wanna talk about preditory business practices, lies, fraud, and general hypocrisy they need to be talking about AOL.
It's getting harder and harder to boycott these crap companies anymore because they have their hands in everything. I'm not so much worried about MONOPOLY status anymore as I am worried about cross market control. I hate the thought that I can effectively boycott a company like AOL because at the end of the day I don't know what all they own. Or that because I hate their "internet" service I have to punish them by not seeing a movie I really want to see. I think they should limit how many markets a company can get into especially huge corps like this. Too easy to abuse that kind of power.
Reply #8 from JoeUser Forums Top
AOL is a rip. Not only do they sell high-priced, very slow, flooded with adds internet access, they are trying to kill Trillian! They see it as a security breach. That is bull. AOL is jest pissed because their adds are not sufficating the life out of Trillian (like it is on their own im) and they are not makeing money. They charge $22 a month and they arn't making money??? I don't care what AOL says or dose, I am still gona use Trillian like I have for the past 4 months. Trillian is a blessing and AOL is trying to take it away. They want our computers to run off slow internet. They want our computers to crash because of low memory. They want to be leaches like Microsoft and suck all of your money for something that is not worth it.

Reply #9 from JoeUser Forums Top
Too many ISPs are doing this, they build software and interfaces to sell add space and to push advertising to the users computer even tough we pay for the service and bandwidth. I think it is rude and inconsideret of the company to charge me for service and then use up all of the bandwidth with the advertising adds and my desktop with the control baner that can not be removed. Nowdays there is no need for any special interface at all, but they all use it. MSN, SPRINT, Earthlink take your pic.they say they want to provide a better service for the users......

Well my take on it is .. if you want to provide a better service give me an easy small set up program that uses the browser of my choise and that will not hide the settings from me and stop placing banners and other trash on my desktop and use my bandwidth with useless adds popping up every 10/15 sec.

It's one thing for AOL to want to keep their systems "secure" and to only allow their clients on it; after all, they're footing the bill for the servers. But if they're concerned about "security" then why aren't they going after Linux (GAIM) and Mac OS (Fire) clients that are not developed by AOL? Until AOL supports a standard IM syntax (along with Yahoo!, MSN, etc.) then programs like this are going to prosper.

I guess now they are gona start complaining that too many people are using MSIE instead of their crap browser.
Reply #10 from JoeUser Forums Top
Wow, that guy that described Cerrulean Studios as parasites on the back of AOL can **** my *****. Brown nosers like him make me angry. I can see AOL's point of view. If Trillian was its own IM network, and AOL started nosing in on it and cutting out the ads that funded the service, I'd side with Trillian, but I just despise AOL/Time Warner/Coca Cola/God knows what else they own. Microsoft's got nothing on these fools.
Reply #11 from JoeUser Forums Top
Another thing... AOL built its internet business on their modified version of MSIE, but now that they own Netscape, they're turning around and suing Microsoft. Gotta love those guys, eh? *barf*
Reply #12 from JoeUser Forums Top
I've been using Trillian perfectly fine... AIM, YIM, MSN, and ICQ have all been working as good as ever... It may be my version... I think I'm using version .70 or .71. Try those if all else fails.
Reply #13 from JoeUser Forums Top
I don't see the problem with AOL protecting itself. And I don't see the problem with the author stating his opinion. As a matter of fact, I don't have a problem with the author "reversing" his opinion. I reverse mine all the time. All you have to do is convince me that my current opinion is wrong...

If someone came up with a way to circumvent using the OD network, or the ability to use WB skins without purchasing it, I don't think there'd be a need to discuss the issue.
Why is it always OK to trash the "big boys", or rip them off for that matter?

I have nothing against Trillian, or the authors, but if you're going to play with other peoples software, bandwidth, and revenue, don't be surprized if they cry foul. Heck, sounds like AOL is being fairly civil about the whole thing, if you ask me. I mean after all, they could have just sent out their 800 pound lawyers to handle it, instead of giving their programmers a couple of hours of OT.

I guess it all depends on whose shoes you try walking in...

Reply #14 from JoeUser Forums Top
"If someone came up with a way to circumvent using the OD network, or the ability to use WB skins without purchasing it, I don't think there'd be a need to discuss the issue.
Why is it always OK to trash the "big boys", or rip them off for that matter?"

You can't compare a paid service like the OD network with a free one, like AIM.
Reply #15 from JoeUser Forums Top
I just downloaded Trillian for the first time today and it seems really great. The only problem is, it seems to be conflicting with WB. The display starts flashing when I try and bring up another window besides the main contact one. When I unload WB it doesn't do that though. Anyone else experiencing these problems?
Reply #16 from JoeUser Forums Top
Attention WindowBlinds Users: You must add Trillian to your exclusion list.

Go to Per Application and add a per app setting. Sellect Trillian.exe and select ignore this app. simple
Reply #17 from JoeUser Forums Top
at Deskmod iMike posted a well thought-out defense for this issue with AOL and also Microsoft's key activation system. I posted my feelings there (I'm lightstream) so I'll just put a link here and not use up the bandwidth with a huge post. http://www.deskmod.com/?show=news&nid=310
Reply #18 from JoeUser Forums Top
If there are ads, it's not free. It's ad-supported. There's a difference, and that is that they are getting some return from their investment. If Trillian takes over, they're faced with having to provide servers for no reason. That's just stupid. They *are* within their rights, no matter how you look at it. I agree it's annoying, though.
Reply #19 from JoeUser Forums Top
TheGreenReaper, the problem with that argument is that AIM is listed as FREE and FREEWARE on every site I've ever seen not ADWARE. AOL never says that it's ad-supported ANYWHERE. AOL very neatly hides the ad aspect on it's frontpage for AIM, the secondary page does show a screen print with an ad but it's such a generic item people could easily misconstrue it as a function of AIM and not a seperate ad (i.e. if they didn't know what talk back live on CNN was). AIM's site mentions "free" all over the place, mentions "Exchange instant messages FREE!". Technically they even give me permission to use Trillian by this statement "You can send instant messages without downloading AIM". Also nothing in the EULA suggests that I am limited to the use of their client to access OSCAR services or their network. Since Trillian doesn't use any of the content pushed by AIM then it's not breaking copyright law. Since the OSCAR protocols aren't patented then there's no patent dispute.
Reply #20 from JoeUser Forums Top
The majority of ads are still just ads for AOL service and given that there are utilities and hacks already widely available to strip the ads from the AIM client itself the argument doesn't really hold. Additionally AOL charges per active user for advertisement space, not based on what client is being used. And finally there are already clients using the TIC-TOC protocol that communicate with AOL and do not consume ads by design, AOL is not shutting them out.

This whole issue is about control of a resource, that resource not being the network but the user. AOL wants to control the user. Allowing a user to move to another client that AOL does not in some way limit or control (TIC-TOC is an almost severely limited protocol) is a very negative thing in their book because it dissallows them from brainwashing you into their service. The accusations of "hacking" are fraudulent. AOL is now doing the same thing the record companies (which AOL is now part of) have been doing with CD's, breaking them to lock certain users out of fair use. AOL has been using exploits in it's own protocol to lock users out, if they were interested in security they would close these exploits and be done and then sue the pants of anyone who "hacked" the system - just like any other legitimate company would.
Reply #21 from JoeUser Forums Top
Sorry Elwin and TGR... to me messenging is an Internet protocol, or service, just like email or the Web, and the fact that they are being so stuborn refusing to take part in any messenging standardisation effort just confirms how much I hate AOL.
How would you feel if you had to use Outlook to send email to somebody who is using Outlook?
Reply #22 from JoeUser Forums Top
"You can't compare a paid service like the OD network with a free one, like AIM."

Sure I can - I just did.
And as TGR pointed out, it's not really "free" in the way that you seem to think. If it's an ad supported service, whether it's AOL, ICQ, or any other service for that matter, circumventing the ads is theft - plain and simple.
All those cracks that seem some how condoned for ICQ are just that - cracks.


"How would you feel if you had to use Outlook to send email to somebody who is using Outlook?"

Well, if the central server connecting the communication between the 2 were provided by MS, along with the software protocols, I'd think that it was completely reasonable...
Reply #23 from JoeUser Forums Top
Elwin, by that logic I'm stealing when I use the clicker to switch channels during a commercial on my TV or when I fast forward using the vcr or when I skip look into the table of contents of a magazine and skip over the 20 pages of ads just to get to the content I want. What about if I purposefully show up late to a movie to skip the commercials or only listen to public radio. Am I stealing when my mind just zones out during another ignorant commericial or when I immediately scroll a web page so I don't see the "shock the monkey" ad which makes me want to go into a fit. Am I stealing when I use ad blocking software or filter spam from my inbox? What about when I throw away all of the ads that come in my snail mail or when I sign up to not receive phone sells. Am I stealing because I have chosen NOT to see the ad. With theft there has to be some loss involved. i.e. I steal something, someone else goes without that item. If I block ads or ignore them AOL has no way of knowing and therefore continues to charge for the same amount of ad space and receives the same income, therefore they are not out any resource/good/service. I've still signed up for an account, I'm still active on their roles, they are still selling me to the marketing system. Had Trillian said "You don't even have to have an AIM account" then that would be depriving AOL of something.
Reply #24 from JoeUser Forums Top
If advertisers really pay per active user, and not per ad views, then it explains even better AOL's position: advertisers find out that one million people are using Trillian instead of AIM, and go to AOL and say: why are we paying for them if they don't see the ads?
AOL leaves alone other clients because they're *marginal*. As people pointed out in some news comments, all this happens because Trillian has been prominently displayed on popular download sites. They can't afford to let their advertisers *know* that they're paying for nothing.

As for the email analogy, it's irrelevant: email server and bandwith costs are covered by the sender and receiver's ISP, so you pay for your email (or, with free email webservices, you pay by viewing ads). In the case of AIM, if two Trillian users chat on an AOL server, they're both making AOL pay for them and giving nothing in return.

I'm glad Trillian exists (I use it for ICQ) but you can't *blame* AOL for tring and protect their income.
Reply #25 from JoeUser Forums Top
Well, gosh guys, you've convinced me - I was wrong.

Golly - what should I do next? I know. I think I'll crank out about a hundred copies of Photoshop and pass them out to anyone that wants them. I mean heck - it won't do any harm right?
After all - "With theft there has to be some loss involved. i.e. I steal something, someone else goes without that item."
Nobody goes without. As a matter of fact, I'll be a regular saint. I buy a hundred blank CDs, pass 'em around - hell, I'm a regular Robin Hood...

Of course, my conscience still tingles from time to time over that AOL AIM user agreement thingy that I said yes to when signing up for the service, but I'm sure that will go away with time.