DULLES, Va., October 03, 2007 -
AOL today announced the launch of the new AIM 6.5 software. Available as
a free download at www.aim.com, the
new AIM offers a variety of new instant messaging features, including
enhanced mobile messaging and a new status message feature. The new AIM
6.5 also showcases two new plugins built using Open AIM APIs that let
users stream music and play casual online games.
“With the latest release of AIM, we continue
to provide our users with the tools that make it easy for them to
connect and share their lives with their social circles in real-time
wherever they may be,” said Marcien Jenckes,
Senior Vice President and General Manager, Messaging and Social Media,
AOL. “As social media booms, we're
introducing even more ways to help our users connect. AIM users can now
send a text message to one friend or broadcast a personal message to all
of their friends right from the AIM Buddy List.”
Features in the new AIM 6.5 include:
AIM® Tunes Plugin: This plugin allows
users to stream non-DRM music that their buddies have added to their
playlists. AIM users can listen to the music on their PCs anytime
their buddies are online while fully respecting copyright issues of
the music industry. AIM Tunes does not require a separate media player
download.
Status Message: This feature builds on the popular “away”
message to let users broadcast a personal message to friends on their
AIM® Buddy List®
feature regardless of whether or not they are online. AIM users can
now see at-a-glance what their friends are doing at any given time.
TXT Message Mode: This feature enables AIM®
users to easily toggle between sending a buddy an instant message to
their PC and a text message to their cell phone. Now it's
easier than ever to use AIM to send friends messages to their cell
phones.
More Color Themes: This option offers AIM users ten new colors
for their Buddy Lists and IM windows, including such colors as “Bling
Bling” and “Smashed
Pumpkin.”
Buddy Notes: This feature gives AIM users the option to write
private notes about each of their buddies, such as birthdays or phone
numbers, from within the “Edit Buddy”
section.
User Education: This feature gives AIM users tips on AIM®
features right in the IM form.
Toolbar for AIM: This new browser toolbar offers AIM users
one-click access to search, email, instant messaging, MapQuest®,
horoscopes, celebrity news and more.
QQ Games Plugin: This optional plugin allows AIM users to
compete with their AIM® buddies in
massively multiplayer online casual games including QQ Treasure
Hunter, QQ Match Master, QQ Pool, QQ Robo and QQ Black Jack. This
plugin was built by Tencent, a leading operator of online gaming and
virtual communities.
AIM Short Code: This new feature will deliver AIM functionality
through text messaging on a user's cell
phone, including “send IM,”
“change status message,”
“view Buddy List,”
“add/delete buddy”
and more. Anyone with a cell phone will now have access to their AIM
Buddy List. The ‘AIMAIM'
short code (246246) service will be available as early as this week,
and is being rolled out in a phased approach across major wireless
carriers.
Coming Soon: AIM Dashboard, AIM
Profiles
Later this month, AIM users will be able to express themselves through
AIM® Profiles, a new social networking
feature. Here, they'll be able to share their
personalities and life details, as well as thoughts entered into their
Buddy Info pages. Users will also be able to engage in a new photo
sharing experience called AIM® Photos, which
enables users to tag buddies and make comments on photos.
Also coming in October is a new personalized start page called AIM
Dashboard (formerly AIM Today). Here users will be able to check out
recent updates from their entire buddy networks at a glance, as well as
update their profiles and status messages, even set up RSS feeds for
popular services such as Flickr, YouTube and Digg accounts to broadcast
to their buddy networks.
Availability: Users can download AIM 6.5 free of charge at http://www.aim.com.
System Requirements: AIM 6.5 requires Microsoft Windows XP, 2000
or Vista.
About the AIM® Service
The AIM® service (http://www.aim.com)
is at the center of one of the largest and most dynamic online and
mobile communities. It provides developers with an open and modular
platform for development and access to millions of Americans at http://developer.aim.com.
The AIM service is where users go to find their friends and manage their
social lives through instant messaging, email and mobile texting as well
as robust voice and video services.
About AOL
AOL is a global Web services company that operates some of the most
popular Web destinations, offers a comprehensive suite of free software
and services, runs one of the country's largest Internet access
business, and provides a full set of advertising solutions. A
majority-owned subsidiary of Time Warner Inc., AOL LLC is based in
Dulles, VA. AOL and its subsidiaries also have operations
in Europe, Canada and Asia. Learn more at AOL.com.
Contacts
AOLErin Gifford, 703-265-7285erin.gifford@corp.aol.com
