AOL Wants to Add Video Streaming to IM

[BigBlueBall News]

Jeff Hester

April 4, 2003

AOL Time Warner has petitioned the FCC to lift the ban forbidding them from adding video conferencing without first opening its IM network up to competitors. The restriction was put in place as part of the terms of the AOL’s 2001 merger with Time Warner.

AOL argues that it’s two IM programs, AIM and ICQ, are facing tougher competition from MSN and Yahoo!, both of which now offer video conferencing.

According to ComScore Media Metrix, which measures U.S. usage, in January AOL had 62 million unique AIM users and 8 million unique ICQ users. This compared to MSN with 20 million users and Yahoo with 18 million.

Related Links

• AOL asks FCC to lift IM restriction - CNET
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