AOL updates instant messenger

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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.

News source: C|Net News

(1 reply) #1 on 01 Jan 1970 - 00:00

#1.1 timdorr on 08 Sep 2004 - 19:29

Hopefully, the same idiots that spend $2 on a ringtone

#2 bangbang023 on 09 Sep 2004 - 02:22

Some of you people are freaking ridiculuous. They are simply charging people if they wish to enjoy some of the extra eye candy and such that paying AOL members already get. There is nothing wrong with that at all. I guarantee you, in a year or so, MSN will have stuff like this too for their Messenger, more so than just the games for Premium subscribers.

As companies realize that ads aren't covering the costs of their free services, they have to look else where for revenue. They are a business afterall and the whole goal of a business is to generate income.

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