America Online Inc and Web Communications Inc today will announce an on-demand version of AOL’s instant messaging service for businesses. The companies, which jointly developed the new service, claim the on-demand version of the AIM instant messaging platform is an industry first.
Called AIM Pro, the service works with enterprise directory services and enables instant messaging, conference calls and online meetings. It has the same voice, video and web collaboration capabilities as WebEx’s MediaTone Network, said the companies.
AIM Pro will be sold in two flavors: a professional version for individuals and SMEs; and an enterprise instant messaging, or EIM, edition with centralized admin controls for larger companies. By partnering with AOL, the nation’s leading IM provider, WebEx is able to deliver an on-demand business IM solution with access to hundreds of millions of AIM and federated IM users, said WebEx chief executive Subrah Iyar, in a statement.
Dulles, Virginia-based AOL and Santa Clara, California-based WebEx said the service would be available during the second quarter.
