14 DAY TRIAL // AOL prepares for its 20 million AOL Instant Messaging users a new program, which is not just an upgrade of the current version.
The software, code named Triton, will be launched towards the end of this year and will be endowed with lots of features. The most interesting novelty is the concept of tab conversations. For each conversation the program will open a new tab, all of them being displayed in the same window. Using a horizontal menu bar, one can define the way users communicate, and Triton will also offer video and audio support.
The application will add new functions which are not present in the current version, 5.9, like: voice support for multi-party conferences and a SMS sending module which is intended to be more than a simple conversation window.
With Triton, users will be able to transfer images and files, or to launch invitations to games. As IM spam is on the raise, Triton will also include an IM Catcher which will collect all the messages received from users not present in the contact list, easing in this way the tracking and reporting of spam messages.
Regarding IM programs, Triton represents a new approach, the current version originating in 1996, when text based IM was the alternative. In time, AOL hopes that all 20 million users will switch to Triton.
A beta version can be found at the address http://beta.aol.com/projects/tritonbeta/, but it doesn't contain all the features of the final version.