Verizon: Pay Attention To What We Do, Not What We Say

AIM Gets Into The VoIP Game

from the took-'em-long-enough dept

Thu, May 4th 2006 6:42pm — Mike Masnick

AOL is pretty well known for showing up late to the game, and it appears that they're finally recognizing the whole instant messaging/VoIP connection that Microsoft, Yahoo and Skype are already active in. Since the space is already ridiculously crowded and competing on price is not sustainable, it looks like AOL is going with a slightly different gimmick. Rather than just cheaper calls, VoIP on AIM will give users a local phone number for incoming calls for free. However, if you want to make outgoing calls, then you have to pay $15 per month and it sounds like outgoing calls are unlimited. Given that AOL is suddenly betting on AIM as the core of their new strategy (at least this week), they probably figured they needed to offer some sort of VoIP offering. Probably cost a lot less than eBay paid for Skype, though.

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11 Comments

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garfalk, 4 May 2006 @ 8:08pm

1st
now that that's over, i find that really expensive. just use a regular phone. or cell phone.
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Sohrab, 4 May 2006 @ 8:12pm

it depends, if it covers international, it might be very nice indeed. for example, my sisters boyfriend is going on a job to Korea for 6 months and communication will be very hard and expensive. Right now, their using Skype but both do have aim, so if it offers it and a decent price, why not stick to what you got instead of downloding yet another program
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Logan renz, 4 May 2006 @ 8:48pm

Where do I signup?
Seriously. Where do I signup for my free phone number?
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garfalk, 4 May 2006 @ 8:56pm

Re: Where do I signup?
probably at aim.voip.com or it would be if google ran it.
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Jimi Spier, 4 May 2006 @ 8:59pm

Ugh..
AOL needs to go the way of other dial up providers.. Down the tube..
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Hobot, 5 May 2006 @ 7:07am

Um hello.
AIM has had a voip feature since the begining, if you know how to setup a fscking microphone
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JH, 5 May 2006 @ 7:10am

aim.com ... vs voip.com
garfalk, I think you meant to guess voip.aim.com. if you're going to guess at least guess an URL with "aim.com" as the domain! clearly you've drank the Google cool aid.
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skibare, 5 May 2006 @ 8:23am

Where everyone is missing the BOAT is Level3 and V
ebay with Skype........AOL with AIM VOIP.........an BOTH ride on level3
LVLT is going UP in voice..........Two Thumbs UP
JimCramerSkibare
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AOL, 5 May 2006 @ 8:35am

people still use AOL?
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imfbsbn, 5 May 2006 @ 11:08am

This is NOT a bad idea
On the cost side (yes, in addition to programming) the local number costs AIM about $5.00/mo. However the deal with (and between) the BOCs is that anyone gets paid 1.5c/min for terminating a long distance call. Some businesses have created free conference calls center based on this fact.

AIMs break even is 33 incomming minutes of long distance per user per month. I make no judgment on if that's a good number or not.
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sean, 7 Jun 2006 @ 7:06am

try wengo
In fact, I'm using wengophone right now, it enables me to chat with different IM software(like msn), not skype however (but they say they will provide this service soon).
Also, now they have a great offer of calling 26 star destinations illimited, just check: www.wengo.com
You will have interest
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