AOL today announced the creation of a new "Open AIM" (AOL Instant Messenger) initiative designed to make it easier than ever to connect with anyone and everyone on the web.
For the first time in the company's history, AOL is inviting developers, online communities and sites and services of every kind to build new plugins and custom communications clients based on the popular AIM platform.
The Open AIM initiative will empower companies, communities and independent developers alike to build customized plugins, stand-alone communications clients and popular application 'mash-ups' that access AOL's global instant messaging network and reach more than 63 million active users across the AOL, AIM, ICQ and Apple iChat services.
The program gives developers freedom to unleash their creativity with an AIM Software Development Kit (SDK) that lets them build new tools that deliver real time text, voice and video communications without compromising the security of the AOL instant messaging network. The AIM SDK features support for AOL's proprietary protocols and is available from today.
Kevin Conroy, Executive Vice President, AOL Media Networks, said,
"The Open AIM program will provide online businesses, Web sites and third-party developers everywhere with direct access to one of the largest and most active online communities in the world. We are extremely excited to see the creative new ideas that developers will bring to the table. Together, we will usher in a new era in real time communications services, offering consumers increased choice and making it easier than ever to connect and communicate online."
Enrollment in the Open AIM program and use of the AIM SDK for the development of new plugins and clients is free. The Open AIM program enables companies, communities and developers to sell advertising and access, and to facilitate up to 250,000 log-ins per day or two million log-ins per month, without additional licensing requirements.
Parties interested in using the AIM SDK for enterprise uses should contact AIMCommercial@aol.com.
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