Slowly but surely, closed systems are dying. The most recent company to see the light: AOL. Slashdot points to an AOL announcement that explains:

AOL said on Monday it planned to let software and service developers create their own versions of its AOL Instant Messenger (AIM), which analysts said was a significant move for a company that has traditionally cordoned off its services.

The announcement also contained a quote from an AOL executive that suggests the firm sees this as part of its innovative strategy for the future:

"The next wave of opportunities will come as a result of allowing developers to innovate," Kevin Conroy, executive vice president of AOL Media Networks, said in an interview.

Ain't that the truth. Say it loud and sing it proud, brother.

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