AOl's AIM software has been around for a long time (it first launched way back in 1997) and it still has millions of users. But the software hasn't had a good makeover in a while and it has also lost users due to text messaging on smart phones as well as social networks like Twitter. Today, AOL launched a new preview version of a planned revamp of the AIM software in an attempt to make itself more relevant to today's texting and Twitter audience. The preview can be downloaded for the PC and Mac platforms along with the iOS and Android operating system. You can also check out a web-only version of AIM at the preview site (shown above).
The new AIM (which even has a new cursive logo) allows users cross-platform functionality, which means that you can start a message with a friend on your iPhone, continue that same message on your PC and continue it again via the AIM web version (don't worry, you can also take your chats "off the record" if you want). Messages also appear on the side of the friends list rather than via a separate window. You can also create group chats with the new software. If a friend sends you a video or picture link, the video or picture actually appears in the chat rather than just the link.
Facebook and Twitter feeds can also appear in the AIM client along with news feeds from a number of AOL's web site like Engadget, Tech Crunch and more. But will the revamp result in more people using AIM over other rival messaging systems? Time will tell.
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