Thursday, May 18, 2006

Akonix, Microsoft Look For "Bot" Creators

San Diego-based Akonix Systems announced this morning that its new instant messaging "bot" software has been selected by Microsoft for use in a promotion to spur developers to build "conversational robots" for Microsoft's MSN Messenger platform. Microsoft, Akonix, and IM Interactive are sponsoring a competition to create interactive "robots" for Microsoft's instant messaging platform. Conversational robots are expected to allow people to chat with, provide interactive customer service support, suggestions, and more. The content, which runs through September, will award over $40,000 in prizes to winners. Akonix's L7 Builder product is designed to interact with MSN's Instant Messaging network.

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