AOL Delivers New AIM Pro Free of Charge

July 19, 2006-- Today marks the official launch of AOL's new AIM® Pro service, which is available for download at www.aol.com/aimpro. This feature-rich version of the popular AIM® service is designed for individuals, workgroups and small to mid- sized businesses, and makes it easy to communicate with colleagues, vendors and customers in real time.

Today, the company also announced that AIM Pro will be available to all Internet users free of charge. AIM Pro offers a streamlined AIM® Buddy List® feature, integration with Microsoft® Outlook® and gives users one-click access to WebEx Communications' advanced voice and video conferencing and Web collaboration services for fast and effective business communications.

"Over 14 million people already use the AIM service as a daily business tool. We designed AIM Pro to be a complete instant messaging and desktop collaboration solution tailored specifically to their needs," said John McKinley, president, AOL Digital Services. "Enhanced security, one-click online meeting capabilities and integration with Outlook are just a few of the features that set AIM Pro apart from the competition. AIM Pro has the power to help individuals and businesses be more productive while offering dramatic cost savings."

According to The Radicati Group, a leading market research firm, instant messaging has become a mission-critical collaboration tool for 135 million workers in organizations of all sizes. That number is expected to grow to more than 477 million by 2009, with most users relying on consumer services, such as AOL's industry-leading AIM service.

AIM Pro offers an instant download and simple set-up plus easy migration of AIM account information. It gives users the option of using their professional email addresses as AIM® Screen Names to maintain a consistent business identity. Building on the widespread adoption of AIM service in the workplace, AIM Pro offers business-grade security and SSL encryption for confidential business communications and features automatic anti-virus file scanning for more secure document sharing.

New AIM Pro modules offer instant access to business content The AIM Pro Buddy List features new finance, podcasting and people search modules that provide users with instant access to valuable business content. The AIM Pro modules include:

• AIM Pro Finance gives users access to The Wall Street Journal headlines for personal finance, technology and business news, plus stock quotes and market data from AOL® Money & Finance. "Our partnership with AOL for the new AIM Pro provides instant access to The Wall Street Journal Online, furthering our goal of reaching consumers however, whenever, and wherever they need premier business news and information," said Gail Griffin, general manager, The Wall Street Journal Online.
  
• AIM Pro Podcasting  makes it easy for users to click and play digital audio content from top business, technology, sports and entertainment news providers. For the first time, this innovative module gives IM users one-click access to play lists, RSS feed managers, podcast recommendation engines and media players.
  
• AIM Pro People Search lets users search for information on professionals from a database of more than 31 million business profiles and two million companies around the world.
  

AIM Pro features include:

• Instant download and easy set-up;
  
• Professional look and feel;
  
• Streamlined Buddy List feature;
  
• Ability to use business email address as AIM Screen Name;
  
• Easy Screen Name migration and Buddy List import;
  
• Calendar tab with Microsoft Outlook® calendar and corporate directory Integration;
  
• WebEx Web-based voice and video conferencing;
• WebEx Web-based meetings and desktop sharing for online collaboration;
  
• Local logging;
  
• New AIM Pro modules from top content partners; and
  
• Business grade security, including SSL encryption and virus scanning.
  

Reach to more than 75 percent of all enterprise instant messaging (EIM) users worldwide
The AIM Pro service seamlessly connects to the more than 80 million users on the global AOL instant messaging network via the AOL® AIM, ICQ® and Apple® iChat® services. Its also gives users easy access to more than 75 percent of all EIM users via AOL's AIM® Clearinghouse service and federation agreements, including those using Microsoft Corporation's Live Communications Server and IBM / Lotus Sametime 7.0 as well as EIM systems from Jabber, Inc., Antepo, Inc., Parlano, Inc., Omnipod, Inc. and Communicator, Inc.

Pricing and Availability:
AIM Pro can be downloaded today, free of charge, at www.aol.com/aimpro.

SOURCE AOL

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