New AIM 5.9 Released

[BigBlueBall News]

Jeff Hester

September 8, 2004

AOL Instant Messenger, or more commonly, AIM, has always been free to download and use. I’m always surprised when I run across people who assume that you must be an AOL subscriber to use it. No, it’s free, free, free.

But...


That is beginning to change. This latest incarnation, AIM 5.9, adds new emphasis to subscription services. Yes, AIM 5.9 is still free to download and free to use, but some of the extra goodies will only be available if you ante up some coin. Is it worth it?

AIM Expressions have been around for a long while, and they’ve allowed you limited ability to download their "official" Expressions. Of course, you can make your own AIM Expression, but that takes a little bit of skill and patience, and even then, sharing them with your friends can be challenging. AOL would much rather you cough up $1.95 monthly (or $9.95 annually) for the privilege of using AIM Expressions. We’ll see how it flies.

SuperBuddy icons are animated buddy icons with some extra intelligence. They’ve been available to AOL subscribers for a while, but now AIM users can download them for $1.95 each. They are essentially animated buddy icons, but they respond to what you are typing. If you send a frown smiley, your SuperBuddy icon will also frown. If you say "i love you," the SuperBuddy will gush with emotion. Is the cuteness worth $1.95?

The challenge for AOL is to find easier ways for users to pay for these extras without thinking too much about it. Mobile phone carriers learned this lesson well. Many people won’t think twice about downloading a ringtone or a image for their cell phone, even though they end up paying a buck or two for them. Because the charges are virtually transparent, usually showing up as a small charge on a much larger mobile phone bill, it’s a painless impulse buy.

If AOL can make the purchase process painless and easy, they’ll likely do well with impulse downloads of their new extras.

Related Links

• What are your impressions? Discuss AIM 5.9 in the forum


• Official AIM website


• BigBlueBall AIM Center


• AOL Updates Instant Messenger - News.com


• America Online Launches Update to the AOL Instant Messenger Service - Business Wire