Google Acquires 5% of AOL

"CNN is reporting that Google just acquired a 5% stake in AOL for $1 Billion, shutting Microsoft out of the deal." Under this new agreement, among many other things, Google Talk will now interface with AOL's instant messenger according to the announcement on Google's site. From the announcement: "Google Chief Executive Officer Eric Schmidt said: 'AOL is one of Google's longest-standing partners, and we are thrilled to strengthen and expand our relationship. Today's agreement leverages technologies from both companies to connect Google users worldwide to a wealth of new content.'"

Well boys and girls in case you didn't notice, this is significant because this is the first time AIM will interface with another IM client other than a 3rd party piggybacker(trillian/gaim/etc) IE, all you AIM users can uninstall AIM and use google IM and still talk to aim users. I see this as one more nail in the coffin for AOL because this is one of the only few apps they have dominance in.