OStatic

Adium, an open-source instant-messaging client for OS X, has released its latest version (1.3). Adium, like the Pidgin IM client, makes it possible to use a single IM program, rather than run multiple clients simultaneously for AIM, MSN, Yahoo, and several other networks. Adium's latest release includes support for the Facebook IM client, providing desktop access to this otherwise Web-only communications channel.

Earlier this year, Microsoft announced its intention to purchase Yahoo for $44 billion in cash and stock. Now, Yahoo has announced its intention to become a fully open, platformizable company, letting developers mix and match its services and data in new and different ways. How much of this is designed to make Yahoo more profitable, and how much is simply a reaction to Microsoft's acquisition attempt? Will openness bring Yahoo more revenues, or simply make it a cooler company in developers' eyes?