AOL Instant Messenger 4.7 Launches for Windows

[BigBlueBall News]

Press Release

July 26, 2001

Popular Instant Messaging Service Offers New Features to Inspire Conversations



DULLES, Va.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--July 26, 2001--America Online, Inc., the worlds leading interactive services company, today announced the launch of the AOL Instant Messenger(SM) (AIM) (R) service, version 4.7 for Windows, now available for download at www.aol.com/aim. The AIM service, one of AOLs popular interactive brands, is a free instant messaging product that makes it convenient for consumers to see when friends, family and other contacts are online and to communicate with them in real time.



There have been more than 100 million registrations around the world for the AIM service, which is available for use on computers, mobile phones and other handheld devices.



The AIM 4.7 instant messaging software offers enhancements based on extensive user feedback and research, including a new AIM Today window that appears along side a users Buddy List feature whenever they sign on. User feedback showed that people wanted more ways to use instant messaging as a community-building tool and a central meeting place where they can find people they know and meet new people with similar interests, get quick bits of information that they can share with friends, and learn tips on how to get the most out of instant messaging.



"One of the fundamental reasons that instant messaging is so popular is that we have made the AIM service simple and easy to use," said Raul Mujica, General Manager, AOL Instant Messenger. "As more and more people take advantage of the tremendous convenience of instant messaging, they are enthusiastic about learning new ways to enhance the way they communicate with others. We are pleased to provide version 4.7, which includes terrific new features for current AIM users and gives everyone who has not signed up yet more reason than ever to do so."



Other new features in AIM 4.7 include the ability to send customized, electronic greeting cards within instant messages; the ability to create and store personalized notes that will appear on screen whenever a user scrolls their mouse over names within the AIM (R) Buddy List feature; the ability to share names from the Buddy List feature with friends; and HTTP proxy support to make it easier for users to connect to the AIM service from work.

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