One of my earliest computer memories involves AIM. The program was quietly released in the spring of 1997 for Microsoft Windows, allowing users to register an online handle, create buddy lists, and chat with friends in near real-time. One of my earliest computer memories involves AIM.Īrguably one of the greatest tools to be spun out of the core AOL experience was its standalone instant messaging client, affectionately known as AIM. This early Internet venture was wildly successful, largely in part due to AOL's web portal for beginners which featured casual and classic games, news and sports sections, chat rooms, tips on finance, and more.Īt a time when it wasn't readily apparent just what to do once you'd gotten online, AOL's web portal served as a good starting place for many. By the middle of the decade, however, management restructured the company as an online service provider for those new to the Internet. AOL was founded in the early 80s as Control Video Corporation, focusing exclusively on an online service for the Atari 2600. America Online had the whole digital world in its hands by the mid-1990s, but nothing can last forever.

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