Previous | Home | Next
Stuart Henshall
More by Author

AIM Goes API Route

March 6, 2006 03:40 PM

Topics: News

I've had a few pointers today to AIM opening up their API. Apparently they are not going to play with multi-headed clients. Then who can blame them when nobody else seems to either.

Where it is interesting is the opportunity for monetising AIM. My perception is AIM will want to start charging for commercial message flow. Eample, putting videos into in boxes in real time. AIM has a built in throttle on such communications. As IM and SMS systems converge the route to message me is no longer just email. Add in all the extra context. Lots of opportunity.

Note none of these other messenger systems with the exception of Skype Multi-chat handle a distributed no servers group messaging format effectively.

On the Skype score. A clear SIP strategy is becoming more important. Skype is probably the only company currently that can charge customers for SIP accounts and offer them an immediate benefit. Concurrently opening their chat client (the headless one wev'e heard about) to XMPP would further add value. Then it is time to add in SMS functionality.

Wonders in the Walled Garden never cease; AOL announced this morning that it was releasing an AOL AIM API that would support open development of AIM plug-ins, AIM user interface applications and the integration of AIM presence information into other sites and applications. Open AIM has Web site at http://developer.aim.com/, with tools and documentation; can't wait to see what the first mash-up is. Susan Mernit's Blog
Post | Email | Print | Comments (6) | TrackBack (0)



Trackback Pings

TrackBack URL for this entry:
http://www.skypejournal.com/cgi-bin/mt/mt-tb.cgi/1988

Comments

Posted by: julian.bond [TypeKey Profile Page] at March 7, 2006 12:15 AM

I find it hard to see what all the fuss is about.

- ICQ and AOL have had web presence longer than anyone. Is there anything new here?

- They've released a COM control that wraps the AIM protocol. Well ok, that matches Skype. But the license terms seem to be considerably more restrictive. And people have been reverse engineering the protocol successfully for years. So why bother using their API?

-What's most annoying is that you can't see all the detail in the announcement without signing up for a developers key.

What's really disappointing is that we all thought the Google-AOL tie up would mean that there would be some interop between Googletalk and AOL. Maybe even that AOL would integrate LibJingle. That may still happen but this announcement makes it feel that it's further away not nearer.

Posted by: aaytch at March 7, 2006 5:00 AM

Rarely have I ever seen so many typos, spelling errors, and grammar errors in one article. Get an editor.

Posted by: Phil Wolff at March 7, 2006 2:01 PM

aaytch, thanks for the comment. Stuart writes a lot like he speaks, and we're almost always better off getting his ideas down and online sooner than later. I'll always go for an inch more original thought and disciplined analysis over a mile of Chicago Manual of Style.

That said, I love mechanically correct English. Would you care to write for Skype Journal? Skype me.

Posted by: Welt-Blick [TypeKey Profile Page] at April 20, 2006 8:53 AM

Hehe, no discussion about the topic, only the orthography :)

Posted by: CableGuy at July 10, 2006 5:10 AM

Use Miranda IM! Miranda IM is a open-source multi protocol instant messenger client for Microsoft Windows: http://www.miranda-im.org

Posted by: Filmlexi at September 27, 2006 7:21 AM

I like Miranda IM very much, too. You should really have a look at it.

But of course Skype ist better :D

Post a comment




Remember Me?

(you may use HTML tags for style)





Other Recent Posts

Skype 3.0 Folder Pollution in Life | Products | Skype杂志 | complaints | design | ebay | skype | skypejournal | voip | wishlist on 11/22/06

Skype 3.0 Beta for Windows; bugfix build 137 in General Notices | News | Products | Skype News | Skype杂志 | ebay | skype | skypejournal | voip on 11/22/06

Skype PR Wake Up Call III: The Commentary in Business | Every Post | Ideas & Views | Marketing | Skype News | Skype杂志 | Strategy | ebay | observations | skype | skypejournal | voip on 11/22/06

Wednesday morning scan in Business | Life | Marketing | News | Products | Skype Partner Watch | Skype杂志 | Strategy | Technology | Tips & Tricks | Yahoo | counterpoints | design | ebay | freedom | observations | regulation | skype | skypejournal | voip on 11/22/06

Yes, TalkPlus reverse engineered Skype. in Developers | North America | Skype Partner Watch | Skype杂志 | Strategy | Technology | ebay | skype | skypejournal | voip on 11/21/06

Email to a friend