One of the most popular instant messengers today, AOL Instant Messenger (also known as AIM) is the most widely used IM program with an estimated 53 million users, according to Nielsen/Netratings.
A long-standing leader in the instant messaging market, AIM was one of the first messengers to offer features such as photo and file sharing, audio/video chat and IM-to-cell phone integration.
With AIM's newest release, version 6.5, users can:
- send and receive instant messages
- share photos and files through IM
- communicate with other users through voice/video chat
- automatically save IMs through IM logging technology
- receive messages while offline
- personalize AIM through an Expressions library of buddy icons, color options, font/text controls and advanced profile settings
- send instant messages to cell phones for free
- and broadcast thoughts and feelings through the status bar feature.
New users can receive a screenname and download AIM for free.
Requirements:
- Windows 2000 or higher
- Internet Explorer 6.0 or higher
- 128MB RAM/512MB for enhanced multimedia features
- Macromedia Flash
- Microphone and speakers/headset for voice/audio chat.
Broadband Internet connection is recommended for multimedia and live video chatting capabilities.
Linux and Mac versions are also available.
