AIM integrates with Google Talk for cross-platform chatting, teenagers worldwide shrug

For eons two realms have been divided: AOL Instant Messenger and Google Talk. AIM debuted among American Online employees in 1995; Google Talk premiered just a decade later. By 2007 you could combine your buddy lists, but that required also logging in twice. Children wept; women gnashed their teeth and rent their garments. Men tried to remain stoic, but inside their hearts were breaking. But now our long global nightmare has come to an end, and as AOL says "in the next few days" users of both services will be able to chat without logging in twice. One login to rule them all is the promise, though there's little explanation of just how this will work -- presumably something involving hobbits. Hit the source link to catch a glimpse of our harmonious, united-chat future.