From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia AOL Instant Messenger
AOL Instant Messenger
AOL Instant Messenger Since version 2.0, AIM has included person-to-person
instant messaging, chatroom messaging, and the ability
to share files peer-to-peer with buddies. Version 4.3 in-
troduced storing user contact lists on AOL servers and al-
lowed for a maximum of 200 buddies to be stored. Also,
Developer(s) AOL Inc.
in the 4.x versions, the AIM client for Microsoft Windows
Initial May 1997 (1997-05) added the ability to play games against one another using
release the WildTangent engine. The first version released with
Stable 7.5.11.9 / May 5, 2011 (2011-05-05) WildTangent did not warn the user that it was going to
release be installed. Newer versions do, because many spyware
scanners flag WildTangent software as spyware.[5]
Preview 7.5.5.7 Beta 2 (4 December 2010 (2010-12-04))
The successor to AIM version 5.9 was originally
release [+/−]
named AIM Triton. Compared with version 5.9, Triton’s
Written in C++, Adobe Flash programming code was rewritten and featured a brand
new UI engine called Boxely. The first beta version of
Operating Windows, Windows Mobile, Mac OS X,
system Android, iOS, BlackBerry OS Triton (0.1.12) supported only Windows XP[6] when re-
leased. For the first time in developing a new version
Type Instant messaging client of AIM, these preliminary versions were made publicly
License Proprietary available on the AIM home page for any user to test and
provide feedback.
Website aim.com
In September 2006, Triton was renamed to AIM 6 and
a new beta version was made available. This version
AIM)
AOL Instant Messenger (abbreviated AIM is an instant
slightly changed the UI.[citation needed] The final stable ver-
messaging and presence computer program which uses
sion of AIM 6.0 was released on December 15. New fea-
the proprietary OSCAR instant messaging protocol and
tures included connection to AIM Pages, additional cus-
the TOC protocol to allow registered users to communi-
tomization, and compatibility with address book pro-
cate in real time. It was released by AOL in May 1997.
grams and sites through a "Universal Address Book"
Stand-alone official AIM client software includes adver-
powered by Plaxo. Further, the upgrade unified away
tisements and is available for Microsoft Windows, Win-
messages and general user updates into RSS feeds and
dows Mobile, Mac OS, Mac OS X, Android, iOS, BlackBerry
added the ability to send messages to offline users. Cer-
OS.[1] The software, maintained by AOL, Inc., at one time
tain features that were missing from the prior version
had the largest share of the instant messaging market in
were also re-added, such as global font customization
North America, especially in the United States (with 52%
and a smaller cache usage, although the Get File function
of the total reported as of 2006).[2] This does not include
has yet to return. Also new in this release was opening
other instant messaging software related to or developed
AIM to developers,[7] which allowed anyone to create
by AOL, such as ICQ and iChat. As of June 2011, one re-
plug-ins or custom AIM clients for Windows, Macintosh,
ported market share had collapsed to 0.73% [3]. However,
or Linux.
this number only reflects installed IM applications, and
The next version, 6.1, added Buddy List docking, sup-
not active users.
port for inserting images into Buddy Info, the ability to
change the highlight colors of the UI, improvements in
History displaying Linked Screen Names, several bug fixes, and
improved Windows Vista support.
In September 1995, the "Buddy List" precursor to AIM
Version 6.5.11.1 supports status messages (similar to
was launched internally to AOL employees. In March
away messages), and has improved cell phone integra-
1996, the Buddy List was opened up to AOL subscribers.
tion.[8]
The standalone AIM became available to non-subscribers
In version 7.4 for Windows and version 2.1 for Mac
in 1997.[4] The release of AIM came over a decade after
OS, AIM added support for Facebook, allowing users to lo-
AOL’s prior QuantumLink incarnation had offered "On-
gin using their Facebook ID and chat with their Facebook
Line Messages" (OLMs) to its subscribers.
1
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia AOL Instant Messenger
friends.[9] Version 7.x no longer supports Windows 2003 rate limited, they are unable to send messages for
Server (which is newer than XP). about 10 seconds, though they may still receive
messages during this time.
Protocol • : If a user feels a received instant message is
inappropriate, the recipient can "warn" the sender,
The standard protocol that AIM clients use to communi- which increases the sender’s warning level. Warning
cate is called Open System for CommunicAtion in Real- levels reduce the rate at which users can send
time (OSCAR). Most AOL-produced versions of AIM and messages and can eventually cause a given screen
popular third party AIM clients use this protocol. How- name to be unable to sign on for a period of time.
ever, AOL also created a simpler protocol called TOC that Since it was often abused, the feature is no longer
lacks many of OSCAR’s features but is sometimes used supported in AIM Triton or AIM 6. For a while,
for clients that only require basic chat functionality. The warnings had not been disabled serverside, meaning
TOC/TOC2 protocol specifications were made available that older AIM clients, third-party clients, or user-
by AOL, while OSCAR is a closed protocol that third par- written add-ons may still allow users to bypass "soft"
ties have had to reverse-engineer. removal of warning abilities.
In January 2008, AOL introduced experimental Exten- Only, Only,
• , Allow Only Buddies Only or Privacy refers to the
sible Messaging and Presence Protocol (XMPP) support option on the AOL Instant Messenger client to allow
for AIM,[10] allowing AIM users to communicate using only users on a user’s buddy list to contact them.
the standardized, open-source XMPP. However, in March This is to prevent harassment or spamming and is
2008, this service was discontinued.[citation needed] As of also a secure way to chat.
May 2011, AOL offers limited XMPP support.[11] • : Also termed an avatar, a small, personalized picture
that a user can set up to appear whenever they
Terminology message another user.
AIM and AOL use several terms for elements of their in-
stant messaging that are different from other messen- Privacy
gers. These include: AIM is different from other clients such as Yahoo! Mes-
• : A function of some instant messaging applications senger in that it does not require approval from one bud-
whereby a user may post a message that appears dy to be added to another’s buddy list. As a result, it is
automatically to other users if they attempt to make possible for users to keep other unsuspecting users on
contact when the user is unavailable. It is analogous their buddy list to see when they are online, read their
to the voice message on an answering machine or status and away messages, and read their profiles. In fact,
voice mail system. there is a web API to display one’s status, away message
• : An AIM user may block a specific screen name on as a widget on one’s webpage.[12] However, one can block
their buddy list. The blocked user cannot contact or another user from communicating and seeing one’s sta-
see the status of the blocker. Both users in this case tus; though this does not prevent the user from creating
will always see each other as offline until the blocker a new account that is not blocked and therefore can still
"unblocks" them. track the first user’s status. A more complete privacy op-
• : Information about the user that may be edited by tion is to select a menu option allowing communication
the user. The user’s buddies are able to view the only with those on one’s buddy list; this causes blocking
information as a pop-up. There is a character limit (thus appear offline to) all users not on one’s buddy list.
that cannot be exceeded. AOL recently teamed up with Facebook, allowing you
• : The centerpiece of AIM, a list containing the status to login to AIM using your Facebook account. However,
of up to 1000 buddies stored on an AIM server so the many privacy advocates claim that the convenience
user can access this list from any instance of AIM. comes at a high price. In order to sign up for AIM Express,
The status of the buddies can be seen as "online", the more lightweight, web-based version, you must ac-
"away", "idle", "mobile", or "offline". cept all of their account access stipulations. These in-
• : AIM users can, instead of relaying messages clude access to your photos, videos, messages in your
through the AIM server, connect to each other’s inbox (including private}, custom friends list, friend re-
computers directly via this method and send various quests, and more. You must also allow AIM to access your
forms of media. account when you’re offline, as well as post messages and
• : Term for user name with AOL origins. These are videos on your wall. If you refuse to accept all the terms,
available for free with registration at the AIM the sign-up process stops.
website, and range from 3 to 16 characters long.
• : This prevents a user from sending too many
messages in a short amount of time. Once a user is
2
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia AOL Instant Messenger
Robots tions such as harvesting IP addresses and sending virus-
es. Some of these exploits rely on social engineering to
AOL and various other companies supply robots on AIM spread by automatically sending instant messages that
that can receive messages and send a response based on contain a URL accompanied by text suggesting the re-
the bot’s purpose. For example, bots can help with study- ceiving user click on it, an action which leads to infec-
ing, like StudyBuddy. Some are made to relate to children tion. These messages can easily be mistaken as coming
and teenagers, like Spleak, others give advice, and oth- from a friend and contain a link to a web address that in-
ers are for more general purposes, such as SmarterChild. stalls software on the user’s computer to restart the cy-
Before the inclusions of such bots, the bots DoorManBot cle.
and AIMOffline provided features that are provided to-
day by AOL for those who needed it. ZolaOnAOL and
ZoeOnAOL were short lived bots that ultimately retired
Extra features
their features in favor of SmarterChild.
iPhone application
URI scheme On March 6, 2008, during Apple Inc.’s iPhone SDK event,
AOL announced that they would be releasing an AIM ap-
AOL Instant Messenger’s installation process automati- plication for iPhone and iPod Touch users. The applica-
cally installs an extra URI scheme ("protocol") handler tion is available for free from the App Store, but the com-
into some web browsers, so URIs beginning "aim:" can pany also provides a paid version which displays no ad-
open a new AIM window with specified parameters. This vertisements. Both are available from the App Store. The
is similar in function to the mailto: URI scheme, which AIM client for iPhone and iPod Touch supports standard
creates a new e-mail message using the system’s default AIM accounts as well as MobileMe accounts. There is also
mail program. For instance, a web page might include a an express version of AIM accessible through the Safari
link like the following in its HTML source to open a win- browser on the iPhone and iPod Touch.[13]
dow for sending a message to the AIM user notarealuser:
AIM Express
Send Message
AIM Express runs in a pop-up browser window. It is in-
tended for use by people who are unwilling or unable
To specify a message body, the message parameter is
to install a standalone application or those at computers
used, so the link location might look like this:
that lack the AIM application. AIM Express supports
many of the standard features included in the stand-
aim:goim?screenname=notarealuser&message=This+is+my+message
alone client, but does not provide advanced features like
To specify an away message, the message parameter is file transfer, audio chat, video conferencing, or buddy in-
used, so the link location might look like this: fo. It is implemented in Adobe Flash.[14] It is an upgrade
to the prior AOL Quick Buddy, which was later available
aim:goaway?message=Hello,+my+name+is+Bill for older systems that cannot handle Express before be-
ing discontinued. Express and Quick Buddy are similar to
When placing this inside a URL link, an AIM user could MSN Web Messenger and Yahoo! Web Messenger.
click on the URL link and the away message "Hello, my
name is Bill" would instantly become their away mes- AIM Pages
sage. Main article: AIM Pages
To add a buddy, the addbuddy message is used, with AIM Pages was released in May 2006, allowing the 63 mil-
the screenname parameter lion AIM users to create an online, dynamic profile. The
buddy list serves as the basis for the AIM Page social net-
aim:addbuddy?screenname=notarealuser
work. An AIM Page is built using modules following the
This type of link is commonly found on forum profiles, to ModuleT microformat. AIM Pages was discontinued in
easily add contacts late 2007.
AIM for Mac
Vulnerabilities AOL released an all-new AIM for the Macintosh on
AIM is known for security weaknesses that have enabled September 29, 2008 and the final build on December 15,
exploits to be created that use third-party software to 2008. The redesigned AIM for Mac is a full universal bi-
perform malicious acts on users’ computers. Although nary Cocoa API application that supports both Tiger and
most are relatively harmless, such as being kicked off the Leopard – Mac OS X 10.4.8 (and above) or Mac OS X 10.5.3
AIM service, others perform potentially dangerous ac-
3
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia AOL Instant Messenger
(and above). On October 1, 2009, AOL released AIM 2.0 for [7] "AIM Developer". AOL Inc. http://dev.aol.com/aim.
Mac. Retrieved 9 August 2011.
[8] AIM Download 6.5 - AIM
AIM Phoneline [9] Shankland, Stephen (2010-02-10). "Facebook opens
AIM Phoneline was a Voice over IP PC-PC, PC-Phone and chat, and AIM plugs in - Cnet". News.cnet.com.
Phone-to-PC service[15] provided via the AOL Instant http://news.cnet.com/
Messenger (AIM) application. It was also known to work 8301-30685_3-20000060-264.html. Retrieved
with Apple’s iChat Client. The service was officially 2010-12-04.
closed to its customers on January 13, 2009. [10] Florian Jensen (2008-01-17). "AOL adopting XMPP
aka Jabber". http://florianjensen.com/2008/01/17/
AIM Call Out aol-adopting-xmpp-aka-jabber/. Retrieved
2008-01-17.
AIM Call Out is a discontinued Voice over IP PC-PC, PC-
[11] "AOL XMPP Gateway". 2011-05-14.
Phone and Phone-to-PC service provided by AOL via its
http://www.aim.com/xmpp. Retrieved 2011-05-14.
AOL Instant Messenger (AIM) application that replaced
[12] "Integrate Your Site with AIM in 3 Easy Steps"
the defunct AIM Phoneline service in November 2007.[16]
(PDF). AOL Developer Network. AOL Inc. p. 2.
It did not depend on the AIM client and could be used
http://dev.aol.com/data_sheets/
with only an AIM screenname via the WebConnect fea-
WebAIM_Quick_Start_Guide.pdf. Retrieved 9
ture or a dedicated SIP device. The AIM Call Out service
August 2011.
was shut down on March 25, 2009.[17]
[13] "Apple Releases iPhone SDK, Demos Spore, Instant
Messaging". Mac Rumors. 2008-03-06.
AIM Real-Time IM http://www.macrumors.com/2008/03/06/apple-
Since AIM 6.8, AOL has included a real-time text feature releases-iphone-sdk-demos-spore-instant-
that allows typing to be streamed in real-time to the oth- messaging/. Retrieved 2010-12-04.
er recipient, so that both ends of the conversation can [14] "www.aim.com/products/express". Aim.com.
watch each other type, via the Ctrl+R keypress or the http://www.aim.com/products/express. Retrieved
"Real-Time IM"[18] menu option. This feature is a popular 2010-12-04.
assistive technology feature for the deaf. [15] AOL Launches AIM Phoneline
[16] "Looking for AIM Phoneline?". Aimphoneline.com.
References http://www.aimphoneline.com/
?promo=784114&flv=1&ncid=oyjqUzrKfk0000000465&icid=one_cli
[1] "Products AIM". Products AIM. Retrieved 2008-10-02.
http://products.aim.com/products. Retrieved [17] "When is AIM Call Out closing?". AOL Voice
2010-12-04. Services FAQ. http://voice.aol.com/help/aim-call-
[2] "IM Market Share - BigBlueBall Forums". out/help/when-is-aim-call-out-closing. Retrieved
Bigblueball.com. http://www.bigblueball.com/ 2009-04-06.
forums/general-other-im-news/34413-im-market- [18] AIM’s Real-Time IM feature
share.html. Retrieved 2010-12-04.
[3] "OPSWAT Market Share Report June 2011".
opswat.com. http://www.opswat.com/sites/ External links
default/files/OPSWAT-Market-Share-Report- • Official AIM website
June-2011.pdf. Retrieved 2011-08-11. • AOL Instant Messenger Express
[4] "The Wall Street Journal". Home.uchicago.edu. -23 • AOL Instant Messenger at the Open Directory Project
March 2001. http://home.uchicago.edu/~rposner/
wallst2.htm. Retrieved 4 December 2010.
[5] Machrone, Bill. "Spyware or Slyware?".
Pcmag.com. http://www.pcmag.com/article2/
0,1759,1601598,00.asp. Retrieved 2010-12-04.
[6] "AIM Triton Beta Test". Web.archive.org.
2005-04-29. Archived from the original on
2005-04-29. http://web.archive.org/web/
20050429015433/http://beta.aol.com/projects/
tritonbeta/. Retrieved 2010-12-04.
Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=AOL_Instant_Messenger&oldid=455430426"
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From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia AOL Instant Messenger
Categories:
• On-line chat
• AOL
• Cross-platform software
• Instant messaging clients
• Unix instant messaging clients
• AIM clients
• Windows instant messaging clients
• Mac OS instant messaging clients
• Mac OS X instant messengers
• BlackBerry software
• IOS software
• 1997 introductions
• Videotelephony
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