With a bold new redesign, AIM could finally be cool again (seriously)

It’s been more than 10 years since I’ve used AOL Instant Messenger as my go-to chat client, but the new AIM may just be good enough to change that.

AOL launched a preview of its latest AIM vision today, which includes new desktop, mobile, and web apps. Surprisingly, AOL has cut out much of the clutter that previously made AIM a chore to use — it’s now streamlined and focused on conversations. Group chats are … Continue Reading

AOL's internal AIM video chat service gets leaked by TechCrunch

This morning, AOL executive Jason Shellen sent a company-wide e-mail urging employees to test AV by AIM, a new web-based video chat service for the company’s instant messaging client.

TechCrunch, a subsidiary of the company, was not included as an original recipient. But that didn’t stop the publication from obtaining and publishing a copy of the e-mail, announcing what was previously meant to be tested only internally by its parent company.

The service, which originates … Continue Reading

Battle for your texts: Facebook Messages vs. Kik mobile chat

Facebook can’t remind us enough that its new messaging service, announced today, isn’t an email killer. Instead, it’s an all-encompassing messaging system that works across Facebook chat, email, and text messages.

Now that we’ve seen the product, it’s clearly not the threat to email we previously thought. But the new messaging service could pose a problem for the hot mobile chat startup Kik, which we’ve covered extensively.

I’ve fallen head over heels for Kik over … Continue Reading

AOL snaps up Brizzly creator Thing Labs, web video company 5min

Acquiring TechCrunch was certainly AOL’s biggest announcement today, but the company didn’t stop there: This afternoon, news spread that AOL has also purchased Thing Labs — creator of the Brizzly social media reader — for an undisclosed amount, PaidContent reports.

AOL also officially announced this morning that it has acquired web video syndication company 5min Media. Terms of that deal weren’t disclosed either, but sources familiar with the deal say that it’s close to $65 … Continue Reading

AOL and Google renew search deal as Bing creeps up

Every time AOL is expected to fade into obscurity, something crazy happens to make it relevant again. Today it’s the five-year extension of AOL’s contract with Google to provide search functions and a portion of ad revenue.

AOL still possesses a 2.3 percent market share of the search market, which isn’t negligible, though it’s dwarfed by Google’s Boeing-sized 66 percent market share, according to ComScore. Yahoo checks in next at 17 percent, with Microsoft’s Bing a … Continue Reading

Instant messaging: feature or product?

Every time AOL is expected to fade into obscurity, something crazy happens to make it relevant again. Today it’s the five-year extension of AOL’s contract with Google to provide search functions and a portion of ad revenue.

AOL still possesses a 2.3 percent market share of the search market, which isn’t negligible, though it’s dwarfed by Google’s Boeing-sized 66 percent market share, according to ComScore. Yahoo checks in next at 17 percent, with Microsoft’s Bing a … Continue Reading