Skip to content
  • Home
  • Biography
    • Personal History
    • Waterman
  • Strengths
    • Tourism
    • Media
    • General Business
    • Healthcare
  • Blog
    • Advice for Business Leaders
    • Business
    • Latest News
    • Healthcare
    • Tourism
  • Opportunities
  • Contact
3 mins read

AIM to shut down after 20 years

Dec 03, 2017
Business
Latest News
Share this article
AIM Stick Logo
AIM Stick Logo

Do you remember AIM, also known as AOL Instant Messenger? Well for those of you that do remember this iconic messenger software, the sad news is that on the 15th December it will disappear into history. For those of you who do not know what AIM is then that is why it is closing its doors.

This was a pioneering application, with its distinctive running yellow stick figure logo and became popularized online chat for the masses back in the late 1990s. It came part of the free discs sent out by AOL to allow computer uses globally to access the internet and it provided for the very first time a buddy list, the ability to leave messages, to chat live to someone on the opposite side of the world via your computer and no expensive long distance calls.

AOL’s instant messaging program came about as a project among a group of computers engineers, and was truly met by resistance from the senior executives but eventually was allowed to move forward. Ironically it became crucial to the success of AOL in the 90’s.

We can learn a lot about this story of AIM, how in the tech world you can have a great innovation, but it only lasts a small time before others come along. In AIM case it was tied into AOL and the monetarization became an issue for the business, it simply did not evolve quick enough and independent chat applications appeared and market share dropped to it is believing to be under 0.02% of the current online chat application traffic.

On a personal note, I have fond memories of using AIM to help build some of the first businesses I was involved within the dot.com early days and on a personal note, I shall feel a slight disappointment and sadness of its failure. Do I think it could have been saved? Definitely… in fact I would say a total re-work of its technology, its interface and more and the silver surfer, the early days online surfer would happily take it back up and with the correct ease of design and flexibility it could compete but alas it looks as if the executives just don’t think or have the correct vision to see that AIM still has something.

Truth is the last time I honestly used AIM I believe would have been maybe 2005/2006 time so that about sums it up.

RIP – Thank you for everything you once did and provided.

Share this article

Related Articles

Japan wants to be carbon neutral by 2050
4 mins read

Japan wants to be carbon neutral by 2050

The third-biggest economy but also the fifth largest carbon emitter...
Growth of Online Virtual Conferences
4 mins read

Growth of Online Virtual Conferences

The coronavirus pandemic has changed the way we do business....
Chronic Stress on the Job
2 mins read

Chronic Stress on the Job

According to the American Institute of Stress, job stress continues...
Social Footprint
4 mins read

Social Footprint

It is public knowledge that companies around the world have...
Starting a new life
4 mins read

Second Citizenship Visa

There was a time when being a citizen or resident...

Article Categories

  • Advice for Business Leaders [32]
    • Development [14]
    • Operations Start-up [21]
    • Raising Finance [2]
  • Business [54]
  • General [8]
  • Healthcare [8]
  • Latest News [22]
  • Lifestyle [4]
  • Tourism [8]
Get notified with new articles!

Subscribe Newsletter

  • Home
  • Biography
  • Strengths
  • Blog
  • Opportunities
  • Privacy
  • Contact
Copyright © 2021 - Wesley Baker. All rights reserved.