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AOL To Charge for AIM Videoconferences
gwoodrow writes "In some of my college computer classes, we discussed the necessity of some sort of profit to be made eventually from major software. AIM was often sited as a rare example of a large company offering up a free service that generated almost no profit whatsoever. Well, that's all changing. It seems that AOL will begin charging for both voice and video conferencing services via the buddy list. Some AIM addicts are surely getting worried that AOL may eventually charge for regular usage."
Why charge for AIM when you can slowly put ads on the AIM conversation windows ala ICQ.
I wonder what this means for iChat?
Just AOL IM or all using the protocol?
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Bite Me Fanboy!!
How will they handle this if one person is using iChat and the other's on AOL or AIM?
There are so many alternatives and other options, why would anyone worry? Yeah, okay, you might have to tell/convince your friends to use a different service, but free is a word most people can't ignore.
Oh, and ads are annoying as hell (reason why I use Gaim).
Yahoo and MSN offer very good audio and video conf. Somehow I feel AIM is much more bloated than the other two. Yahoo IM has seen a lot of improvements lately. the voice is pretty clear and the video is pretty darn good. Initially it would be difficuly for some to use another messenger, not to mention add everyone in your buddy list but AIM would loose out the cost factor, atleast in audio and video conf.
This won't affect me that much even though I do use AIM. Most of my contacts also have other messenger programs, and since trillian is my program of choice it won't change the way I communicate to them one bit. I don't think AOL will charge for it's normal service, in fact I think they will give up on charging for video conference with all the other alternatives out there such as yahoo and msn which also have perfectly capable (and free) video conferencing. Yes they make a little money from advertising, but the end users aren't the ones shelling out the cash, and I don't think they will.
That'll kill AIM. Good. 'Bout time the world moves to a better medium for instant messaging.
And notice I said "better for IM" - as far as I know, streaming XML isn't the best choice for video conferencing.
I mean, give me a break. Next thing you know we'll be asked to protest by sending chain IMs around.
Maybe this will finally open peoples eyes to other IM clients that exist out there - especially open source ones.
Even there isn't something up AOLs standards (AOL + Standards in the same sentence???) then hopefully this will create demand for something different and hopefully open source. Cause you can be assured, as soon as AOL start doing it and M$ start seeing a profit being made then who do you think will join the bandwagon...
And even if all the other IM services start charging money, it does not matter to me. I could bang out a simple java program which uses sockets to send IM's back and forth with my friends. Anyone that wants to be added to the list can get the program emailed to them, no problem with platform. I know it sounds simplistic, but it is so simple to write in java. I bet there would be a ton of free open source alternatives within a few days.
Rosco: "If brains were gunpowder, Enos couldn't blow his nose."
Although they don't advertise Coke and Pepsi, they sure do build in a lot time for self promotion for HBO programming. Prolly not 'commercials' in some sense, but they do feel that way. What chaps my ass is that 30 minute Pontiac ad that aired on USA recently. Damn thing had commercials building it up like regular show.... commercials for commercials, that has got be one of the signs that doom is swiftly bearing down on us.
What, exactly, are they planning on charging for? The only resources that are really important to make chat systems work are connections at each end, and some sort of directory to tell you what computer to contact to reach a given person.
Now, I already pay for my connection, and my ISP thanks me for it once a month. The directory service can be implemented any of a bunch of different ways, including using existing protocols.
AOL cleverly inserted itself into instant messaging by designing AIM to make the AIM servers a sort of middleman (at least according to my limited understanding of AIM workings). They did a lot to make instant messaging easy to use and popular, and in return they got a lot of influence in that sector. But if they're going to charge, they're going to have to add some sort of greater value than what I see right now.
Why should we even worry about this? Lots of previous AOL subscribers found out that they really only wanted plain Internet access, and moved on to cheaper alternatives. Either AOL will find a new source of revenue, or their subscriber base will shrink even further.
Fred
"A fool and his freedom are soon parted"
-RMS
Perhaps I'm dumb (yeah, opening myself up here), but I was unable to get Jabber to work as a server or a client. I could probably force myself to learn it, but in the time spent on that I could just send an e-mail instead. IM is supposed to be easy.
Jabber seems to use XML for communications, making debugging it via telnet a royal pain in the ass. Why people use XML is beyond me... simple "USER foo\nPASS bar\n" has been good enough for years.
Anyways, Trillian doesn't support Jabber (at least, the free version doesn't).
atleast they wrote down some form of regulation to impede a company leveraging their monopoly. Microsoft got off with virtually no regulation, and neither AOL or Microsoft have to actually DO anything that will impede their monopolies.
I personally don't use video AIM because it only runs on Windows XP, and I am exclusively Win2K on my home PCs.
I use Yahoo Internet Chat video and audio. I've done chats with people in Iraq, Jordan, and Pakistan.
Recently AOL changed their policy to lock out the AIM accounts of people who created those accounts while they were paying AOL members. These AIM accounts used to work fine, even after cancelling your AOL account (as you would expect, since AIM is a "free" service).
Unfortunately, now you need to sign up again (and pay $$) to "rescue" your AIM account (and your AIM id, which everyone knows you as). And you need to remain paying, or else.... Yes, you get locked out again.
Brilliant plan AOL.
Aq
It's called a loss leader -- and why would they stop now when they've got enough critical mass among their captive market to launch a pay service within the free service?
I survived the Dick Cheney Presidency 7 to 9 AM 7-21-07
Google offers gIM based on jabber with the launch of gmail. A custom client that could interface with gmail like MSN messenger does with hotmail, but based on an open standard would be great, and google has the recognition to draw people from AIM or Yahoo Messenger. It'd be even better if they offered add ons to services such as GAIM or trillian that combine all the major IM services. *sigh* Wishful thinking...
"Sic Semper Tyrannosaurus Rex."
With single screennames going on ebay for $100+.... i mean come on..
Excuse me, I don't mean to impose, but I am the ocean
Much of Cartoon Network's "Adult Swim" lineup consists of 15 minute long shows, with no commercial breaks. There are, of course, commercials between shows, but surely you have better things to do with your time than watch those.
Like reading slashdot...
you're probably right.
unless of course people start taking hold of the jabber framework and building some seriously new, cool apps, which is entirely possible since the framework is totally open and extensible and not controlled by Evilcorp.
people will definately install new killer apps if they have features users want.
like ours, hopefully! (instant IM support.)
That's like saying the big problem with charging for cars is that only people who buy them will buy them.
AOL has made the determination that given the choice between providing video conferencing for free and not providing it at all, they'd rather not provide it at all - especially if that allows them to also charge other people for it.
Yeah, losing "customers" is bad, but giving away product at less than cost is worse.
paintball
Use GnomeMeeting !
I wrote this the other day, if anyone is interested:
It's time for an international standard on Instant Messaging