AOL Instant Messenger Service in Motorola Wireless Messaging Devices

Feb. 18, 2002-- America Online and Motorola announced today that the companies are working together to integrate a built-in version of the AOL Instant Messenger service (AIM) into a wide range of Motorola wireless handsets. By including the AIM service as an embedded feature on its wireless devices, Motorola and AOL will make it even easier for mobile operators to offer consumers a fun, mobile instant messaging solution without requiring consumers to install or set up any software on their wireless device.Motorola and AOL will be conducting demonstrations of the built-in AIM service on Motorola wireless devices in AOL Time Warner's stand at this week's 3GSM World Congress and exhibition in Cannes, France (Palais des Festivals, Stand L19 in Hall 4).

"With the built-in version of the AIM service on Motorola wireless devices any consumer with an AOL Screen Name and a password can be up and running and exchanging instant messages in no time," said Lisa Hook, President of AOL Anywhere for America Online. "Already, AOL audiences send more than one billion instant messages a day to their friends and loved ones and for carriers, offering the AIM service on Motorola's wireless devices presents a great opportunity to increase the use of text-based services."

"Messaging is today's wireless 'killer app' and by integrating the AIM service on our wireless devices, we're making it even easier for consumers to use this popular service, on the go," said Richard Foss, Corporate Vice President and Director of Worldwide Product Marketing for Motorola. "Together with AOL, we're able to offer mobile operators great services that provide a new level of convenience for consumers."

The AOL Instant Messenger service is used by millions of Internet users every day to communicate in real time with friends and family. One of its key features, the Buddy List feature, allows users to immediately see when family, friends and other contacts are online and available to exchange instant messages.

With "mobile" instant messaging, people have a whole new way to use their phone or wireless device by sending and receiving private text messages with others in real time. This makes it possible to reach people wherever they are - on their mobile phone, at home or work on their computer, or using a mobile device - with the added benefit of seeing when friends, family and other contacts are online and "chatting without talking" when discretion during a personal conversation is needed.

The embedded version of the AIM service for mobile devices was launched last fall and is currently a finalist for the GSM Association's Best Consumer Application or Service award.

SOURCE Businesswire