AOL updates instant messenger

America Online launched on Wednesday the latest version of its instant messaging software, expanding support for sharing pictures and adding several subscription-based features. As earlier reported, AOL Instant Messenger 5.9 adds a collection of new features meant to encourage personalization of the messaging application, including animated buddy icons, sound effects and "wallpaper" images.

A handful of the personalization upgrades will be marketed via subscription, as AOL attempts to garner revenue from the software which it distributes for free via download. The company will charge $1.95 for a monthly subscription to its expanded package of personalization tools, dubbed as AIM Expressions, and offer a yearlong subscription to the service for $9.95. AOL is also selling its animated SuperBuddy icons for $1.95 each, or three for $4.95. The subscription IM business is part of AOL's overall strategy for revenue diversification to supplement its declining dial-up ISP business.

Ho-Hum.....

Sounds like another big yawner from AOL....fluff, and they want you to pay for it! Only in America. It'll probably be successful.

[pentium4forever]

Hope it doesn't have WildTangent spyware

I've stayed with version 5.2.3292 for the sake of the crappy WildTangent application it adds in the control panel as in 5.5 version and on up. I tried it and didn't like that. I was really turned off by that. I could delete WildTangent from control panel by deleting the entry in system32 directory, but lots of users don't know how to do that. The wrong thing deleted could be damaging to your system. WildTangent is supposed to be related to AIM games in some way. It's also spyware as it calls out to the Internet, there was an option when it was added in control panel. Anyway, AOL should have never added that garbage to their software.

What AIM Doesn't Tell You! The New Version is a BETA

I was using AIM 5.5 and decided to buy into their Expressions. I did so and then found out after my purchase, that in order to use them, I needed to have AIM 5.9. I downloaded it. Immediately, I began receiving "dangerously low resource" messages and my Instant Messages were being delivered extremely slowly with delays in the sounds. I would type but the text would not appear in the box until 10 to 20 secons later and more . . . and the text would be sent but the sound that was supposed to accompany it could be heard 10 to 20 seconds later!

I discovered later (not when downloading) that 5.9 is a BETA! It is unperfected.

I had to Remove 5.9 and TRY to find a DOWNGRADE! I found it only by putting "AIM Version 5.5" in my address bar. The AIM homepage does not tell you that older versions ARE available!

Now my AIM is working perfectly again and I have no more "dangerously low resource" messages or problems! HOWEVER, I can no longer use Expressions, as THEY can ONLY be used on Version 5.9 now.

So . . . don't waste your money buying into Expressions and DON'T get the 5.9 Version until it is perfected! My next project will be TRYING to get a REFUND for Expressions.