Vodafone, Orange, IM and not getting 'it'

Link: Vodafone and Orange join messaging forces.

‘The exact pricing depends on the markets’ in various countries, Young said. ‘Some markets charge on a data volume basis, and since instant messages tend to be longer than SMS messages, the price would be (somewhat) higher.’

Arrgh.  I think I will explode if I find out that these operators try and charge MORE for an ‘instant message’ than a text message.

And while we’re about it, we ALREADY have interoperability.  You just add the word ‘messenger’ on the end of the following brands: MSN.  Yahoo. AOL.  Gmail.  Jabber.

WE ALREADY HAVE IT THANK YOU VERY MUCH. That horse already bolted!  Almost every single one of your mobile phone customers will, by default, have at least ONE instant message account with the names listed above.  Don’t try introducing another one.

Seriously, is it just me that’s having a problem with this?  Honestly?  What planet are we all on? 

Just put each messenger client on every phone you sell.  Right.  YES your SMS data revenues will fall.  But let’s face it, it won’t be long before market pressures FORCE you to move to various unlimited plans. 

So convert your customers now and get them IMing like no tomorrow and pushing up your data-revenues ……. ah right I’ve run out of patience.

Vodafone already has an instant messaging platform available in 11
countries and based on open standards, and Orange has already launched
a similar platform in France, with plans to launch in the U.K., Romania
and the Netherlands later in 2006.

Yup, an instant messaging platform available in 11 countries that NO ONE uses.  Ok, sweeping statement — but seriously, I don’t know ANYONE who uses Vodafone Instant Messenger? 

Good ROI there, then.

What am I missing?