Why iChat?

**georgelien** · May 7th, 2002, 10:55 AM

Isn't Fire, "an Multiplatform Instant Messenger client that can handle similtaneous connections to AIM, ICQ, Yahoo , IRC, MSN and Jabber IM," already out for MacOS X?

http://www.apple.com/downloads/macosx/internet_utilities/fire.html

Why did Apple team up with AOL to bring us iChat, an Instant Messenger client that can handle only iChat and AIM members?

What do you think?

**Valrus** · May 7th, 2002, 11:02 AM

To be perfectly honest, I was wondering the same thing. The interface looks kinda silly too.

Hopefully they'll surprise us with something.

-the valrus

**georgelien** · May 7th, 2002, 11:23 AM

My guess is it was a trade agreement made between AOL and Apple. A pact made between the two companies to fight against their common enemy, M$.

Regards,
George Lien

**dlookus** · May 7th, 2002, 11:30 AM

Don't forget that apps like Fire and Adium are not exactly sanctioned by AOL to us their protocol. AOL has been fighting with companies like that for a while now.

**rinse** · May 7th, 2002, 11:33 AM

I believe there will be some good integration with Quicktime 6 that will allow for video conferencing in this little baby.

Not to mention the fact that it is integrated with the mail.app and adressbook.app... it makes sense for apple tomake this type of app.

Why rely on a third party app like AIM or Fire, when this functionality is included with a standard install of MacOSX?

**Koelling** · May 7th, 2002, 11:50 AM

Originally posted by rinse
Why rely on a third party app like AIM or Fire, when this functionality is included with a standard install of MacOSX?

Because from what I can tell from the pictures, iChat looks like crap.