AIM (AOL Instant Messenger) was an instant messaging and presence computer program created by AOL, which used the proprietary OSCAR instant messaging protocol and the TOC protocol to allow registered users to communicate in real time. AIM was popular from the late 1990s to the late 2000s, in North America, and was the leading instant messaging application in that region.
AIM's popularity in the late 1990s and the 2000s led to the "Running Man" becoming a familiar brand on the Internet.
The company discontinued AIM as a service on December 15, 2017. ==History== In May 1997, AIM was released unceremoniously as a stand-alone download for Microsoft Windows.
On October 6, 2017, it was announced that the AIM service would be discontinued on December 15; however, a non-profit development team known as Wildman Productions started up a server for older versions of AOL Instant Messenger, known as AIM Phoenix. ==The "AIM Man"== The AIM mascot was designed by JoRoan Lazaro and was implemented in the first release in 1997.
This does not include other instant messaging software related to or developed by AOL, such as ICQ and iChat. During its heyday, its main competitors were ICQ (although AOL acquired ICQ in 1998), Yahoo! Messenger and MSN Messenger.
AOL particularly had a rivalry or "chat war" with PowWow and Microsoft, starting in 1999.
AIM (AOL Instant Messenger) was an instant messaging and presence computer program created by AOL, which used the proprietary OSCAR instant messaging protocol and the TOC protocol to allow registered users to communicate in real time. AIM was popular from the late 1990s to the late 2000s, in North America, and was the leading instant messaging application in that region.
AIM's popularity in the late 1990s and the 2000s led to the "Running Man" becoming a familiar brand on the Internet.
This led to efforts by many companies to challenge the AOL and Time Warner merger on the grounds of antitrust behaviour, leading to the formation of the OpenNet Coalition. Official mobile versions of AIM appeared as early as 2001 on Palm OS through the AOL application.
Third-party applications allowed it to be used in 2002 for the Sidekick.
The profile of the user had no privacy. In November 2002, AOL targeted the corporate industry with Enterprise AIM Services (EAS), a higher security version of AIM. If public content was accessed, it could be used for online, print or broadcast advertising, etc.
This web version evolved into AIM.com's web-based messenger. ===AIM Pages=== AIM Pages was released in May 2006, allowing the 63 million AIM users to create an online, dynamic profile.
It was also known to work with Apple's iChat Client. Launched on May 16, 2006, AIM Phoneline provided users the ability to have several local numbers, allowing AIM users to receive free incoming calls.
AIM Pages was discontinued in late 2007. ===AIM for Mac=== AOL released an all-new AIM for the Macintosh on September 29, 2008 and the final build on December 15, 2008.
The closing of the free service caused the number associated with the service to be disabled and not transferable for a different service. ===AIM Call Out=== AIM Call Out is a discontinued Voice over IP PC-PC, PC-Phone and Phone-to-PC service provided by AOL via its AIM application that replaced the defunct AIM Phoneline service in November 2007.
The TOC/TOC2 protocol specifications were made available by AOL, while OSCAR is a closed protocol that third parties had to reverse-engineer. In January 2008, AOL introduced experimental Extensible Messaging and Presence Protocol (XMPP) support for AIM, allowing AIM users to communicate using the standardized, open-source XMPP.
However, in March 2008, this service was discontinued.
Multiple complaints about the lack of control of third party involvement have caused many users to stop using the service. ==Extra features== ===iPhone application=== On March 6, 2008, during Apple Inc.'s iPhone SDK event, AOL announced that they would be releasing an AIM application for iPhone and iPod Touch users.
AIM Pages was discontinued in late 2007. ===AIM for Mac=== AOL released an all-new AIM for the Macintosh on September 29, 2008 and the final build on December 15, 2008.
On October 1, 2009, AOL released AIM 2.0 for Mac. ===AIM real-time IM=== This feature is available for AIM 7 and allows for a user to see what the other is typing as it is being done.
It could take several days after a user signed up before it started working. On January 13, 2009, the service was officially closed.
The AIM Call Out service was shut down on March 25, 2009. ==Security== On November 4, 2014, AIM scored one out of seven points on the Electronic Frontier Foundation's secure messaging scorecard.
AIM's popularity declined steeply in the early 2010s, as Internet social networks, like Facebook and Twitter, gained popularity, and its fall has often been compared with other once-popular Internet services, such as Myspace. In June 2015, AOL was acquired by Verizon Communications.
In the latest iteration, it supports more social stream features, much like Facebook and Twitter, as well as the ability to send voice messages up to 60 seconds long. ===iPad application=== On April 3, 2010, Apple released the first generation iPad.
After over 14 years, the iconic logo disappeared as part of the AIM rebranding in 2011.
In May 2011, AOL started offering limited XMPP support.
There was also an express version of AIM accessible through the Safari browser on the iPhone and iPod Touch. In 2011, AOL launched an overhaul of their Instant Messaging service.
The engineers responsible for AIM claimed that they were unable to convince AOL management that free was the future. On March 3, 2012, AOL ended employment of AIM's development staff while leaving it active and with help support still provided.
The user-interface was entirely redone for the features including: a new buddy list, group messaging, in-line photos and videos, as well as improved file-sharing. Currently the application is in version 5.0.5, which was updated as of March 2012.
However, in August 2013, the "Running Man" returned. In 2014, a Complex editor called it a "symbol of America".
However, in August 2013, the "Running Man" returned. In 2014, a Complex editor called it a "symbol of America".
The AIM Call Out service was shut down on March 25, 2009. ==Security== On November 4, 2014, AIM scored one out of seven points on the Electronic Frontier Foundation's secure messaging scorecard.
AIM's popularity declined steeply in the early 2010s, as Internet social networks, like Facebook and Twitter, gained popularity, and its fall has often been compared with other once-popular Internet services, such as Myspace. In June 2015, AOL was acquired by Verizon Communications.
In April 2015, the Running Man was officially featured in the Virgin London Marathon, dressed by a person for the AOL-partnered Free The Children charity. ==Protocol== The standard protocol that AIM clients used to communicate is called Open System for CommunicAtion in Realtime (OSCAR).
In June 2017, Verizon combined AOL and Yahoo into its subsidiary Oath Inc.
The company discontinued AIM as a service on December 15, 2017. ==History== In May 1997, AIM was released unceremoniously as a stand-alone download for Microsoft Windows.
On October 6, 2017, it was announced that the AIM service would be discontinued on December 15; however, a non-profit development team known as Wildman Productions started up a server for older versions of AOL Instant Messenger, known as AIM Phoenix. ==The "AIM Man"== The AIM mascot was designed by JoRoan Lazaro and was implemented in the first release in 1997.
On March 1, 2017, AOL announced (via XMPP-login-time messages) that the AOL XMPP gateway would be desupported, effective March 28, 2017. ==Privacy== For privacy regulations, AIM had strict age restrictions.
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