VoIP Now

AIM 6.0 Released

I've gotta say that I was impressed with AIM Pro, which came out just a couple of months ago, but 6.0 doesn't seem to have a lot of new features. Nuno at 21 Talks says that there's the ability to send messages to offline users, and a dashboard for managing mobile alerts and forwarding instant messages to cell phones.

I'll be honest, I don't know how AIM 6.0 compares with AIM Pro 1.1, but the latter's desktop sharing feature was really impressive, despite being a bit buggy and slow at times. (Though I ran it on a desktop and laptop simultaneously, both of which used a Wi-Fi connection.) Not sure, either, how either release factors into AOL's plans, but they have been reinventing themselves. First, they'd announced coast-to-coast broadband Internet service in the US, leaving their dialup model. Then they started selling off their European Internet provider divisions. More recently, they've decided to a leave a subscription model and are steering towards an ad-based model of operating, thus laying off many workers.

AIM Pro 1.1 Gets Desktop Sharing

If you haven't already seen it advertised all over the place online, AOL's AIM Pro text/ VoIP IM client is available for free download. This version, which is aimed at business professional, is integrated with Microsoft Outlook, has added security, and has a One-Click WebEx meeting feature by which you can run presentations and collaborate on documents in real-time. The latter is basically application and desktop sharing. Of course, AIM Pro has text-, voice- and video-calling.

I downloaded a copy to both my desktop and laptop, and tried the voice calling first. It's hard to tell when you're talking to yourself, but the pc2pc call quality for my setup (over wireless router connected to cable Internet) sounded fine. I don't have two webcams, so I didn't bother with that feature, but I did try the desktop sharing. It's considerably slow, but it works. In fact, it shares EVERYTHING on your computer, so you'd better be working with people you trust. For me, it's great because I work simultaneously on both computers and was only the other day wishing I could view my laptop screen from my desktop. Well now I can, and I can share apps and transfer files without sharing my hard drives or folders - which possibly opens up my private network to wireless lurkers.

While AOL's been making a play into the VoIP market for a while, I saw no ability to call-out to PSTN phones. So Skype and company have nothing to worry about. And AIM does not have an open interface AFAIK, so companies like Vozin aren't going to be able to build bridge applications like Talqer, which gives Google Talk call-out capability.) Also, desktop sharing isn't a new feature - MSN Messenger had it several years ago, and there have been other ways to manage desktops remotely since at least 1996, if not earlier. However, it's all in a nice, free package, withe recognizable brand name, which will no doubt make a lot of the people it's intended for (business professionals) comfortable using it, especially if they for some reason do not want to use MSN.

I haven't previously used AIM a great deal, I know very little about past versions. Because of contacts I communicate with, I do occasionally chat using Gaim or Trillian on my AIM account. But if I can figure out how to speed up app sharing and get it to use a larger area of my desktop's screen, I might use it simply for remote access to my laptop. If you do decide to try Aim Pro 1.1, keep in mind that you need MS Outlook 2000 and SP 4 (service pack) to utilize the Outlook integration.

Desktop-sharing speed issues aside, there is a great deal of potential for businesses to communicate with customers using AIM Pro. For example, Leader's Bank in Arlington Massachusetts is already using AIM (though not necessarily Pro 1.1) to let customers communicate with their bank manager. If a customer has a question about services, etc., text mode is fine. But if they are having some problems with a web-based service, the manager can open up application-sharing (without relinquishing control of the mouse cursor) and walk through the necessary steps. Alternately, if the customer knows the manager well, they could allow the manager to control their own desktop, if the situation warrants it.

How AIM's desktop-sharing compares to other IM clients, I don't know, but I'll work on a comparison for the future.

Time Warner Expands IP VPN Capabilities

Time Warner has announced the availability of 1 Gbps and nationwide reach for its IP VPN service to business customers. This solution is for enterprises which are looking to streamline their networks and to connect their headquarters, branch and satellite locations and connect various access technologies to a fully integrated, easily managed network backbone.

Graham Taylor, senior V.P., Time Warner, said:

Our VPN solutions suite is optimized to support a wide range of enterprise customers and their advanced intra-company applications requirements. We have solutions that can be tailor-made for these customers and help them converge their voice, data and Internet networks. We are offering customers more choice for their varied business critical applications.

Via techweb

AOL To Offer VoIP, Profile Service

AOL is offering a new service for users of its instant messaging client that would allow them to receive incoming telephone calls. Dubbed Phoneline, this feature provides phone number to subscribers free of charge. A pay version is being offered which would allow unlimited calls to states and thirty countries worldwide for $14.95 per month.

It is expected to compete with Skype which is offering similar services through its desktop client but Skype users are required to pay an additional fee for receiving a phone number for their account. AOL is also planning to give a fight to MSN Spaces and MySpace with the launch of AIM pages which is a social networking service that alerts the user’s buddies through the AIM client when profiles are updated

via betanews

AOL to introduce coast-to-coast high-speed broadband internet

AOL will partner with Time Warner, BellSouth and Verizon and other major DSL suppliers to expand its broadband network coast to coast. AOL has chalked out an aggressive marketing plan for its AOL High Speed offering which will allow AOL members to access exclusive content and security features on high speed DSL internet or cable connection at a competitive price. From 30th January customers will be able to sign up for AOL High Speed and order a cable modem which would make it simpler and convenient to upgrade.

via [Playfuls.com]

BT to face competition from AOL for British broadband market

AOL has declared its intentions to directly compete with in the British broadband market. It will be offering an in house broadband internet service rather than reselling BT offering. It has plans to install equipment in 300 local exchanges throughout U.K. This will enable the company to access 20 % of the country’s population with the new service. If the demand exceeds the expectations it will further invest £70 million for a thousand more exchanges. This move by AOL will further increase the level of competition for high speed internet access across U.K. and ensure competitive pricing for the consumers.

via  [TeleClick]

AOL Suite beta

AOL has released a beta of its integrated suite of applications consisting of email, web browser, and IM. The beta is available to the existing users of the AOL service. AOL Mail, Explorer, and Triton, which are also available as individual applications make up the AOL Suite beta. The beta also provides a universal address book that can be accessed via any AOL communication service such as email and Internet telephony.

Worm in AOL

Malware originating in the Middle East is being used to spread a worm on the AOL IM network. internetweek.com reports:

FaceTime Security Labs, which identified the worm late last month, said it has found a rootkit-linked ster.exe file that contains six additional files that give the attacker the ability to upload, download, and monitor the infected host PC.

Read More: AIM Worm Linked To Middle East Group

Microsoft a contender for AOL stake

Microsoft and Google are two of the companies that have shown a strong interest in acquiring a stake in AOL. Microsoft has emerged as a frontrunner in the process and if the company is to become a stakeholder, it will merge its MSN service with AOL. nytimes.com reports:

One is whether such an alliance would represent yet another new and unproven partnership for Time Warner, a company that has spent much of its energy in recent years trying to simplify its business.

Read More: Many Suitors, and Pitfalls, as AOL Seeks a Partner

Google Inc. and Comcast Corp.

Google Inc. and Comcast Corp. are negotiating for a stake in America Online. This investment would allow the two parties to use the content-rich portal to direct more consumers toward their own services. eweek.com reports:

The possible investment is in Dulles, Va.-based AOL's free Web portal, the home of a number of the Internet's more popular features, and not AOL's dwindling number of Internet access customers.

Read More: Google, Comcast to Buy a Piece of AOL?

TotalTalk

TotalTalk by AOL is now available in three schemes with the monthly fees in the range of $ 19 to $ 35 and one-time charges of around $ 50. Microsoft’s deal with Qwest to reach out to the SMBs and Yahoo’s revamp of its IM service indicates that these giant portals are showing a renewed interest in the VoIP market. This implies that companies such as Vonage and Skype have to gear up to battle these corporates for a share of the VoIP market that already runs into millions of users.

Presence with AOL

AOL is concentrating on adding “presence” features to its blogging and networking sites so that the users on this site can advertise their presence to other users. eweek.com reports:

There's nothing wrong with that, except that Yahoo and MSN will doubtless do the same thing. This will leave users to contend with three presence providers when all we need is a one.

Read More: Some Absences in 'Presence'

AOL and MSN discuss possible merger

According to the Industry grapevine, AOL and MSN are contemplating a merger in the near future. The proposed deal is believed to be a fall out of the recent purchase of Skype by eBay. AOL, which is a trusted name in the Internet business, has not been able to perform to the satisfaction of Times Warner. Similarly, MSN hasn't added much value to Microsoft. A joint venture between the two should strengthen their existing properties and services.

Both the companies witnessed a hike in their share prices after speculations of their merger hit the market. AOL is also reported to be planning a full fledged VoIP service in the near future. The AOL-MSN union would lead to the combining of their instant messaging services, AIM and MSN Messenger. This would give them an edge in the messaging market, which is warming to some tough competition. Industry Experts believe a synergy between the two will prove to be positive.redherring.com reports:

"I could see the motivation for a deal between AOL and MSN," said Patrick Mahoney, senior analyst with the Yankee Group. "Both are being challenged by Google and Yahoo, and AOL is seeing its dial-up market share going away, so it has every reason to welcome a merger with MSN."

Read more:AOL and MSN May Merge

AOL Grabs Hold Of VoIP Market

Corporate Conglomerate AOL Time Warner announced early today that they too would be jumping onto the VoIP bandwagon.  Although they already offer VoIP connectivity through Instant Messages, this will be a fully functioning phone service.  AOL's VoIP works in a slightly different fashion than Vonage mainly because the PC plays an integral part in the process.  When a call comes through, the user has the option to route it too an actual phone, answer it through the computer, or have it forwarded to a mobile phone.  The system even lets you keep call logs and a complete contact list. More importantly, if you have an AOL address book, it will transfer directly over.  The biggest difference between AOL and Vonage is the automatic 911 coverage that AOL provides. This was a smart addition to the AOL service, because they side step a large portion of regulation compliance regarding the 911 issues.  Like most VoIP providers, there is a vast amount of costing plans to each different individuals needs.  In the future, AOL is planning to partner with Linksys and Netgear to offer an expanded home routing system.  According to EWeek:

"It really does act as a universal controller for all my communications, and you have the choice of dealing across the realm of traditional telephony or other Internet communications," Tobin said.

Read more at: AOL Rolls Out VOIP Service