Yahoo bags Zimbra

Yahoo agreed to acquire Zimbra, a developer of e-mail and collaboration software, for approximately $350 million, reports Converge Network Digest.

Zimbra's offerings include AJAX-based e-mail, calendar, and contact management features that can be used both on and offline. The company has developed a set of "Zimlets" that tie in Web services to e-mail.

Yahoo said the acquisition helps it expand its presence in universities, businesses and through ISPs by enabling organisations to host e-mail on or off premises with their own domain.

Microsoft will force users of its aged MSN Messenger instant messaging software to upgrade to Windows Live Messenger 8.1, in response to a vulnerability in the older programme that was made public today, states PC World.

According to a blog post by a Microsoft security program manager who identified himself as "Anand", the instant messaging service will require users to update to the safe Live Messenger 8.1.

"We will soon configure the service so that any user on Windows XP or later has to use Windows Live Messenger 8.1," Anand said. "When a user using an older version of Messenger tries to log in, the client will help the user with a mandatory upgrade to Messenger 8.1."

Six universities will benefit from the NUC and Google strategic partnership initiative, said Julius Okojie, NUC Executive Secretary, according to The Tide. The objective of the initiative is to ensure the two bodies work together to unlock and promote learning.

"Students and staff can search all of their archived mails and collaborate over instant messaging with their contacts. They can add timetables and meetings to their calendars right from the g-mail interface," said Okojie.

He pointed out that the education edition would ensure participating institutions stay on the cutting-edge of the online communications and collaboration.