AIM Gets Down to Business

Jeff Hester

June 10, 2004

AOL today has announced the launch of AIM Business Services. The service caters to business users of AOL Instant Messenger, giving them an easy way to launch voice conferences and web meetings.

According to Osterman Research, 24 million instant messaging users in the US log on from work, and 58 percent (nearly 14 million) of them use the AIM service.

Recognizing that AIM is already in the business place, AOL is extending AIM functionality with real business muscle. There are two components to the new AIM Business Services: AIM Web Meetings and AIM Voice Conferencing.

AIM Web Meetings allow users to launch online meetings directly from their buddy list, sharing presentations or collaborating online. The service is powered by web meeting veteran WebEx.

AIM Voice Conferencing is different from the voice chat functionality built-in to AIM. The service, powered by Lightbridge’s GroupTalk product, allows multiple partipants to join ad-hoc teleconferences. Unlike most teleconference services, AIM Voice Conferencing dials the partipants. Pick up the phone and you’re connected, without requiring a special conference ID or PIN.

Both of these new services require AIM 5.5, and will automatically be available on new AIM installs downloaded after June 10. According to PC World, existing AIM 5.5 users will be prompted to install the enhancement after their 200th sign-in, or they can download the AIM Communications Services toolbar as an add-on from the new AIM@Work website.

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