AOL announces new open-source mobile platform. Who cares?

AOL is jumping into open source and offering a new mobile platform. The real news here, however, is that AOL still exists. Its mobile platform will help developers to integrate with such applications as AIM, AOL Mail, AOL Video, MapQuest, Userplane, Truveo, Winamp, and others.

I use AIM (on Adium) and vaguely remember MapQuest (and once used Winamp), but is AOL's mobile-platform play meant to be a funeral dirge or a real effort to be relevant again? I just can't see too many people getting excited about this move. While its new open-source mobile platform will contain an XML-based, next-generation markup language, an ultra-lightweight mobile device client, and an application server, it will come without broad relevance and a compelling purpose.

You need those last two things to be relevant to developers.

Don't get me wrong: More open source is a very good thing, particularly in mobile where only Funambol has really carried the torch. But I'd rather see more from Google and its friends than from AOL.

[vexed_on_u]

Matt,
Great insight, I guess AOL has not realized that its suppose to roll over and die without a fight. Great in-depth comparison with lots of specifics. You should also alert Yahoo and Microsoft just to close all their initiatives that may rival something from Google because you apparently rather see things from Google. How about this for an article "Matt Asay gives his opinion again, who cares?" Why read Matt Asay when i rather read <include one of 1000 better known tech writters/blogger>.

[fredtheviking]

I don't think that is what the author was saying that "AOL should roll over and died". Rather he was poking fun at AOL, which I personally regred a company that has little justification for existence. I relish the fact that I no longer recieve AOL CDs. A company that was all hype and no substance. Given AOL's history, can you really blame the Author taking a slap shot at AOL?

Besides, this move isn't even playing to AOL strengths.

[chrisfrary]

"The real news here, however, is that AOL still exists." Best statement in a long time, lol.

[mreiher]

I have to agree (mostly) with Vexed_on_u.... This is sort of a non-article... of course it makes sense that AOL has to do something for mobile applications... it's where the industry is going. Remember... everyone thought Apple should turn off the lights and go home back in the 90's - Windows had won and game was over... right? Hummm.... I think not. Although they are heading down the "me too" road... they have to try or they might as well go home now.

[Foofeefoo]

Do you get paid for articles like this? I mean seriously? I've seen more useful news written on gas station bathroom stalls.

[hornerj99]

I'll say this- I would never want anything AOL near my phone. After I dropped AIM for Pidgin, MapQuest for GoogleMaps, I'm happy to never deal with that company again. AOL has continually shown their disrespect for their consumers in use of unsoliciated shortcuts, overtaking of type files, and other borderline spyware like behaviors. With Android, OpenMoko, and others, who needs 'em?

[NoTimeForFools]

I completely agree with vexed_on_u and would take mreiher's comment a step further (this is not "sort of" a non-article, it is definitely a non-article). I guess this is what passes for a worthwhile blog at cnet? Wow. And the "AOL is still around" line is stale, Asay. Worse than stale, even. If you want to bow down to the shrine of Google, that's your business. But your "analysis" is irrelevant if it's motivated by, and colored by, your crush on Google. Thanks for wasting my time... again. (I know, shame on me for being fooled once more)

[rcrusoe]

AOL v5's habit of disabling network cards got it and all future versions of AOL banned at my company. With the exception of IM all their software has been "persona non grata" ever since.

I hadn't given them any thought for years until the Microsoft - Yahoo! deal came up, and thought it may eventually replace the AOL-Time Warner fiasco as "worst tech merger" in history.

[Aimache]

I'm sorry for some people taking pleasure from pain (as they describe their reaction when reading this blog), but this post really made me laugh :)

[Matt Asay]

@Aimache: And that's all it was supposed to be. AOL is irrelevant. Its mobile platform is even less so. Laugh, people!

[NoTimeForFools]

I hope this comment was NOT by the real Matt Asay. If it was Matt's response, shame on cnet for allowing him to continue to blog on its behalf.

[vexed_on_u]

I guess I will look elsewhere if ever want something informative. If you have the time, read my latest post on my blog.

"After another miserable attempt to be insightful, Matt Assay takes a stab at comedy"

[bradbwh]

I am astonished by this lack of insight -- "The real news here, however, is that AOL still exists." I recognize the attempt at humor, but it belies an ignorance of the industry that should not be published at CNET. Perhaps you regard AOL as a fading ISP, and if so, you have not been following along for at least a year. The company has worked to steer its ship in an entirely new direction, transforming from an ISP to an advertising organization, and has gained real traction in what must be considered a short timeframe for a large media company.

Is Engadget irrelevant? What about AOL Money & Finance, which is a popular as Yahoo! Finance? Are they both irrelevant? Maybe you've stopped using Winamp, but it has been on my desktop every day since v1.0, long before either it or I was part of AOL.

Dismissing a company's relevance (and existence, in this case) might be worth a chuckle. But the more lasting revelation of this post is that you aren't well informed.

Sincerely,
Brad Hill
Director, Weblogs, Inc. (an AOL Company)

[NoTimeForFools]

Bravo, Brad. Unfortunately, your logic would seem to be falling on deaf ears. AOL, as a going concern is decidedly NOT irrelevant. It is still a huge player with lots of upward potential. AOL is not without its weaknesses, to be sure. There have been many adverse service-related issues that have become well known. The old idea of AOL being "the Internet on training wheels" also seems to have stuck around. Irrelevance is in the eye of the user, and if Mr. Asay thinks today's AOL is irrelevant, so be it. His ignorance will be his undoing; these days, a tech/opinion blogger is only as good as his most recent analysis. In this case, Mr. Asay will likely be sadly mistaken. Kudos to AOL for perservering and adapting. I just hope they can improve their time to market and support for their premium properties, like Mapquest, and TMZ.

[amitmohan]

Matt : Question for you :- Why would you expect something only from Google ? Why not from AOL ? Don't forget AOL is still No. 3 in the top online visited sites and they have a lot of talent and they can easily churn out good products.

Being on the technical side and as a writer you should encourage the open source products from any company rather than taking sides with certain shops.