RSSCan IM Reshape the Future of AOL?
By Nate Mook | Published August 26, 2005, 6:40 PM
In order to rebuild its brand image while establishing new revenue streams, AOL has turned to its most valuable asset: AIM.
With Google's entry into the instant messaging space this week, rivals AOL and Microsoft are wasting no time planning their future moves. MSN Messenger 7.5 shipped with minor improvements on the road to version 8, while AOL is already mapping out its second generation Triton client for next spring.
Triton, the code-name for the next iteration of AIM that will replace version 5.9, entered beta testing in April. Like its competitors, the Triton client goes beyond IM to offer a suite of communications tools from voice to video.
But Triton's importance at AOL does not just lie in its messaging capabilities. Amid pressure from parent Time Warner to establish profitability in the face of declining dial-up subscribers, AOL is increasingly turning its attention to the open Web where more eyeballs mean larger advertising revenues.
With 43 million monthly active AIM users, the service has become the central focus of AOL's new ad-supported strategy. Triton will be woven into the majority of AOL's Web properties upon its official launch this winter.
The idea, says AOL, is to retain the community aspects that formed the foundation of America Online - not an easy task when its users are no longer corralled within the closed AOL network. AIM functions such as initiating chat sessions will be exposed directly on AOL.com and AOL Search.
"AOL are the masters of integrating community features and interactivity into traditionally static content, but they need to get that in front of people and they need to get people to value that," says Jupiter Research senior analyst David Card.
AOL admits that it has historically been known as the ISP with training wheels and is attempting to utilize AIM to help change that image. While AOL is often gawked at by experienced Web users, AIM remains the most popular messaging network.
To that end, Triton bundles a revamped AIM Today window that is designed to introduce users to AOL's breadth of content, and targets younger generations with witty headlines. AIM has also been reconceived as a full-fledged brand with AIM Mail, AIM Blogs and more.
In addition, the company plans to make AIM the "front door" to many of its other services, from AOL Mail to streaming Web radio - even its Internet phone service. Beneath the surface, Triton will play a critical role in those efforts.
Ok, so can anyone tell me what GAIM and DeadAIM are? I had to reformat and for the LIFE of me cannot get a new version of AIM to DL. I use AIM when I can't get on aol and my friends are too lame to get any other things to talk on..
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|3rd party IM clients for the AIM IM network.
GAIM is probably your best bet.
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|http://fileforum.betanew...or_Windows/1032060483/1
http://www.jdennis.net/DeadAIM/about.php
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|Well said. Good Riddence AOL Virus, hello GMail and GTalk. I quit using AIM alltogether, and all my friends starting using GTalk. AOL is useless, and I hope that company goes bankrupt.
Its only a matter of time before GTalk has picture sharing, file sharing, rich text support and much more. Adios AOL!
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|Matter of time...
Yes, but knowing Google, it could be days to years.
It took them over 4 months to add features to their 'Personalized Home Page', and when was the last time they added anything 'visible' to GMail?
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|Thank God it cant last much longer...au revoir AOL, good riddance.
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|Too little too late. AOL is popular in the States and almost unknown outside of the country. Globalisation is something obvious, if you like it or not, so even large companies must adopt standards used everywhere in the world. I think that nothing will stop Google Talk in its triumphant march, not because of its special features, but because it uses Jabber/XMPP. Jabber is free, non proprietary, safe, with distributed structure, multiplatform and widespread in the world. Some American corporations like EDS or Boeing already understand its advantages and use the protocol. I cannot imagine any professional using AIM or MSN. It is pretty good at home, but far from being reliable. Google Talk will bring Jabber to American Web surfers.
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|Erm... Jabber's been around for ages. All Google have done is make a client for it, possibly allowing the protocol to become more widely known. Until there's a *decent* Jabber client for the masses, MSN and Yahoo Messenger will reign.
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|I think that was his point. He's saying GT will bring Jabber to the masses, instead of just the geek/nerd set.
Personally, I think he's getting a little bit ahead of things...GT is still very young and featureless.
We'll see.
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|AIM and Yahoo bundle to much crap with their messengers. MSN isn't that bad, but they have those tabs that you can't customize. I use Trillian for all my messengers. It's clean and simple. I like Google Talk, but none of my stubborn friends will get it...
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|You make a great point. Most betanews readers are pretty much on the bleeding edge and have used/use all the IM programs. However, many others have one IM and they would never imagine why they should switch. I love google talk but none of my friends use it. The reality is that my largest buddy list is on AIM and almost none of them are AOL subscribers. I think google has an uphill battle trying to break in to this market. On the other hand, I am sure they are aware of this so I assume they entered with a strategy.
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|I recently found out that the tabs in MSN Messenger can be hidden if you don't want them. In MSN Messenger 7.5, go to Tools->Options->Security and there should be an option there something about a shared computer and not to display any tabs.
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|I don;t know what AOL can do to make th future beeter for themselves. like everything they touch it just goes under eventually. somehow I don't think netscape is going to make it back and winamp i don't know how much longer its going to last before it gets the name replaced by the aol name
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|make aim clean and simple, no adware, no spyware... just back to the basic, it is a tool for messaging, for people to communicate each other, not a tool for delivering all the ads and crap thing
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|Yeah - ever since I started using AIM ages ago I had to disable sounds, AIM Today window, delete icons, all kinds of stuff. A couple years ago I paid the $5 to purchase DeadAIM (removes ads, message logging, and a bunch of other much needed stuff). Also stopped upgrading when new versions came out - seemed like they were just adding more ads or eye candy crap.
About a year ago I moved over to alternative clients (Trillian, GAIM etc.) so I can use multiple networks more easilly. Maybe this new IM client will be different - AIM is about the only thing keeping AOL alive right now.
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|I think that you want too much. You want a IM client that takes alot of time and money to build, you want everyone in the world to be able to use it, you dont want to pay for it, and you want it to be ad free.
AOL is a business they are in it to make money.. thus they have ads. Plus the ads arent that bad, i barely notice them and i see more ads on my way to the corner store than i see on AIM in a week.
At least they havent utilized those terrible, terrible, page over ads!
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|I know!
You want Google Talk!
:lol:
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|I stopped using aim long ago, mostly because it installs crap all over my puter. If maybe they would just install a nice clean version without so many ads and crap. I might be inclined to get it again, but I dont see that happening.
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|Hmmm, looks like a gaim clone almost, with out the other tabs
Nice clean interface I might add.
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|mm new browser is nice, but it eats whatever window i'm using everytime it opens and since i'm on a laptop, aim opens and reopens a lot with use. I want a way to turn that option off. Currently there is none and thats comparable to spyware...blah
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|Are you talking about the Annoying AOL.com window that opens in a separate tab? To rid yourself of the AOL.com window, search your computer for a folder named Startup Folder (mine was located under doc & settings\Owner\Favorites\Aol Explorer\startup folder). In this folder you can delete that annoying AOL.com page that opens up and replace it with as many of your own as you wish. I also like the AOL browser, it seems to be faster than the netscape I was using before.
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