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(Mis)Uses of Technology

by Mike Masnick

Thu, May 4th 2006 6:42pm





AIM Gets Into The VoIP Game

from the took-'em-long-enough dept

AOL is pretty well known for showing up late to the game, and it appears that they're finally recognizing the whole instant messaging/VoIP connection that Microsoft, Yahoo and Skype are already active in. Since the space is already ridiculously crowded and competing on price is not sustainable, it looks like AOL is going with a slightly different gimmick. Rather than just cheaper calls, VoIP on AIM will give users a local phone number for incoming calls for free. However, if you want to make outgoing calls, then you have to pay $15 per month and it sounds like outgoing calls are unlimited. Given that AOL is suddenly betting on AIM as the core of their new strategy (at least this week), they probably figured they needed to offer some sort of VoIP offering. Probably cost a lot less than eBay paid for Skype, though.

11 Comments | Leave a Comment..


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  1.  

    1st

    identicon
    garfalk, May 4th, 2006 @ 8:08pm

    now that that's over, i find that really expensive. just use a regular phone. or cell phone.

    [ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

  2.  
    identicon
    Sohrab, May 4th, 2006 @ 8:12pm

    it depends, if it covers international, it might be very nice indeed. for example, my sisters boyfriend is going on a job to Korea for 6 months and communication will be very hard and expensive. Right now, their using Skype but both do have aim, so if it offers it and a decent price, why not stick to what you got instead of downloding yet another program

    [ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

  3.  

    Where do I signup?

    identicon
    Logan renz, May 4th, 2006 @ 8:48pm

    Seriously. Where do I signup for my free phone number?

    [ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

  4.  

    Re: Where do I signup?

    identicon
    garfalk, May 4th, 2006 @ 8:56pm

    probably at aim.voip.com or it would be if google ran it.

    [ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

  5.  

    Ugh..

    identicon
    Jimi Spier, May 4th, 2006 @ 8:59pm

    AOL needs to go the way of other dial up providers.. Down the tube..

    [ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

  6.  

    Um hello.

    identicon
    Hobot, May 5th, 2006 @ 7:07am

    AIM has had a voip feature since the begining, if you know how to setup a fscking microphone

    [ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

  7.  

    aim.com ... vs voip.com

    identicon
    JH, May 5th, 2006 @ 7:10am

    garfalk, I think you meant to guess voip.aim.com. if you're going to guess at least guess an URL with "aim.com" as the domain! clearly you've drank the Google cool aid.

    [ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

  8.  

    Where everyone is missing the BOAT is Level3 and V

    identicon
    skibare, May 5th, 2006 @ 8:23am

    ebay with Skype........AOL with AIM VOIP.........an BOTH ride on level3
    LVLT is going UP in voice..........Two Thumbs UP
    JimCramerSkibare

    [ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

  9.  
    identicon
    AOL, May 5th, 2006 @ 8:35am

    people still use AOL?

    [ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

  10.  

    This is NOT a bad idea

    identicon
    imfbsbn, May 5th, 2006 @ 11:08am

    On the cost side (yes, in addition to programming) the local number costs AIM about $5.00/mo. However the deal with (and between) the BOCs is that anyone gets paid 1.5c/min for terminating a long distance call. Some businesses have created free conference calls center based on this fact.

    AIMs break even is 33 incomming minutes of long distance per user per month. I make no judgment on if that's a good number or not.

    [ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

  11.  

    try wengo

    identicon
    sean, Jun 7th, 2006 @ 7:06am

    In fact, I'm using wengophone right now, it enables me to chat with different IM software(like msn), not skype however (but they say they will provide this service soon).
    Also, now they have a great offer of calling 26 star destinations illimited, just check: www.wengo.com
    You will have interest

    [ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]


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