Alcatel-Lucent's OpenTouch Conversation software will allow enterprise users to switch among different ways of communicating -- including instant messaging, voice calls and video conferencing -- without interrupting their conversations. The software will first be available on Apple's iPad, the company said on Monday.

Microsoft has fixed a bug that made it impossible for about a dozen models of Skype-certified phones to log into the popular IM, VoIP and video-conferencing service.

Google and AOL have restored the interoperability between their two instant messaging (IM) networks, a little over two weeks after it was temporarily suspended due to a spam flood originating in AOL's AIM that affected Gmail Chat and Google Talk users.

Microsoft is investigating reports that about a dozen models of Skype-certified phones are having trouble logging into the IM, VoIP and video-conferencing service.

AOL hopes to roll out a fix soon to a spam surge in its AIM service targeting Google IM users, a situation that prompted Google to temporarily shut down the interoperability between the two instant messaging networks.

Eight percent of online Americans may use Twitter, as the Pew Internet & American Life Project reported on Thursday. But does that mean your small business should use the service in its marketing and communications efforts?

Have you checked your work e-mailtoday? If you're like most employees in the United States and United Kingdom, the answer is yes despite the fact that it is not only the weekend, but an extended holiday weekend for most workers in the US. A day off is becoming an increasingly foreign concept as workers stay connected virtually 24/7.