14 DAY TRIAL // AOL has released its popular IM client for Mac users. Currently at its first beta version for the Macintosh platform, the instant-messaging client boasts features like Friendly Names, multi-point file sharing, tabbed IM conversations, AIM Blast groups and more.
Released shortly after the iPhone version kicked off, “AOL Instant Messenger (AIM) should be used because e-mail just isn't fast enough sometimes,” the company says. “This convenient, add-on to your system lets you communicate one-on-one or in a group with family, friends, and business associates who also use it. Finding people online can be easy too. Use the Member Directory to locate friends by name or by e-mail address,” AOL explains.
With Friendly Name support, users can easily store the names for their ICQ or Mobile users in their Buddy List. When a user adds an ICQ or Mobile user, he / she will have an opportunity to create a more familiar “friendly name” for that user. Editing an existing ICQ or Mobile user on the Buddy List to add a Friendly Name to their entry is also possible with AIM for Mac.
Another key feature of AIM, sure to delight users of the Mac OS, is Multi-point File Sharing. AIM's new File Sharing implementation lets Mac users share files without having to use a Shared Folder. Therefore, users can simply share files by just dragging and dropping a file, or even a folder from anywhere on their computer into the My Shared Files window.
The Mac release also keeps AIM's favorite features, including the ability to customize the client to the users’ liking (AIM Expressions), or the ability to view mail in AOL or AIM webmail. Tabbed IM conversations, AIM Groups and AIM Blast groups round up the features list for this early Mac release.
Need more reasons to grab this free IM client right now? We didn't think so. Here you go. Drop by later and tell us how you liked it.