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AOL opens AIM and ICQ instant messaging protocols

31 points by mickael 19y ago

mickael 19y ago
It probably bring a lot of opportunity to build new interesting services.
systems 19y ago
ICQ soooooo nostalgic, who still uses ICQ? I wonder why the makers of ICQ never predicted Facebook, they had the opportunity to improve the Interface, increase the features in a nice manner, and becoming facebook! I dont know why they stuck themselve into the narrow one column interface thingie! They just cluttered their interface sooooo much They so desperately needed to think outside the box, literaly
- gustaf 19y ago
  You'd be surprised how many people use ICQ still. Israel, Germany, Russia and Ukraine are big ICQ countries.
tuukkah 19y ago
This means everyone can use AIM and ICQ via the Jabber gateways: http://www.process-one.net/en/blogs/article/openaim_aol_is_opening_its_instant_messaging_protocol/ http://www.process-one.net/en/blogs/article/openaim_aol_is_o...
redorb 19y ago
I think Meebo and projects like Gaim/Penguin make this announcement a little less significant
kingnothing 19y ago
Sounds like they're about 6 years too late; everyone has already reverse engineered both of those protocols.
acrylicist 19y ago
People still use AIM? The client turned into a gigantic epileptic-fit inducing billboard. IRC or Jabber. You're done.
- gustaf 19y ago
  You are clearly a hacker =) Yes, AIM is the 2nd largest Network in the US after Yahoo. Internationally MSN Messenger and QQ are dominating in terms of pure user numbers.
- kirse 19y ago
  http://x.aim.com/laim http://x.aim.com/laim
cdr 19y ago
As the comment to the post says, "Open" is meaningless. http://dev.aol.com/aim/license http://dev.aol.com/aim/license Among other things, like requiring you implement certain features, it says: "AOL will issue you one or more alphanumeric software keys that are uniquely associated with your Screen Name and your Application(s) (the "Open AIM Keys") to enable you to access the Tools you will use to build your Developer Application(s). During the registration process for access to and/or download of the Tools associated with a given Application or Applications (as set forth below), you will be prompted to identify to AOL certain information describing your development and intended use of the relevant Applications, including the URL of your Site."
nkohari 19y ago
I'd really like to see someone mesh together IM and SMS in a seamless way. Probably won't happen while mobile phone carriers are charging per-SMS, though.

31 points by mickael 19y ago

It probably bring a lot of opportunity to build new interesting services.

ICQ soooooo nostalgic, who still uses ICQ? I wonder why the makers of ICQ never predicted Facebook, they had the opportunity to improve the Interface, increase the features in a nice manner, and becoming facebook! I dont know why they stuck themselve into the narrow one column interface thingie! They just cluttered their interface sooooo much They so desperately needed to think outside the box, literaly

gustaf 19y ago
You'd be surprised how many people use ICQ still. Israel, Germany, Russia and Ukraine are big ICQ countries.

tuukkah 19y ago

This means everyone can use AIM and ICQ via the Jabber gateways: http://www.process-one.net/en/blogs/article/openaim_aol_is_opening_its_instant_messaging_protocol/ http://www.process-one.net/en/blogs/article/openaim_aol_is_o...

redorb 19y ago

I think Meebo and projects like Gaim/Penguin make this announcement a little less significant

kingnothing 19y ago

Sounds like they're about 6 years too late; everyone has already reverse engineered both of those protocols.

acrylicist 19y ago

People still use AIM? The client turned into a gigantic epileptic-fit inducing billboard. IRC or Jabber. You're done.

gustaf 19y ago
You are clearly a hacker =) Yes, AIM is the 2nd largest Network in the US after Yahoo. Internationally MSN Messenger and QQ are dominating in terms of pure user numbers.
kirse 19y ago
http://x.aim.com/laim http://x.aim.com/laim

cdr 19y ago

As the comment to the post says, "Open" is meaningless. http://dev.aol.com/aim/license http://dev.aol.com/aim/license Among other things, like requiring you implement certain features, it says: "AOL will issue you one or more alphanumeric software keys that are uniquely associated with your Screen Name and your Application(s) (the "Open AIM Keys") to enable you to access the Tools you will use to build your Developer Application(s). During the registration process for access to and/or download of the Tools associated with a given Application or Applications (as set forth below), you will be prompted to identify to AOL certain information describing your development and intended use of the relevant Applications, including the URL of your Site."

nkohari 19y ago

I'd really like to see someone mesh together IM and SMS in a seamless way. Probably won't happen while mobile phone carriers are charging per-SMS, though.