- Quick specs
- Price: Free
- Operating system: Windows Vista, Windows 95, Windows Me, Windows NT, Windows XP, Windows 2000, Windows 98
- Date added: July 26, 2009
- Total Downloads: 38,423,867
- Downloads last week: 3,888
- See full specifications
A newer version of AIM (AOL Instant Messenger) is available.
(Download doesn't provide access to previous versions of this program.)
- CNET editors' rating: stars
- Average user rating: stars out of 403 votes
See all user reviews
CNET editors' review
Reviewed by: Seth Rosenblatt on May 27, 2009
AOL continues its push to stay relevant with the latest upgrade to its chat program. In version 6.0, we saw the incorporation of tools that were mostly old hat to other chatware. This time around we get Twitter support, two built-in plug-ins, expanded mobile messaging, an easier way to switch skins, and a new Status message feature.
The two plug-ins are the biggest upgrades, with mixed results. Neither the QQ Games nor the AIM Tunes plug-ins worked in Vista, although they were fine on an XP machine. They both allow full control from the Buddy window, which is especially useful for AIM Tunes and the integrated streaming XM Radio. The TXT Message mode was far more stable, functioning well regardless of OS. As of this writing, though, the AIM Short Code for accessing your Buddy list and other AIM chat features via SMS has not yet been rolled out.
The other features--Plaxo address book, telephony and a free local "dummy" number with free voice mail--are nice touches, but nothing that blasts AIM ahead of the pack. The buddy window has been largely unchanged, managing links to other services, extra features, and of course, ads. Whether these services can entice new users as well as those who have drifted to multi-chatware supporting apps remains to be seen.
Publisher's description
From AOL :AIM 6 is the next generation of instant messaging software. We listened to your requests and added lots of new features. Plus, we streamlined the software to make sure it's fast enough to keep up with you.
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User reviews of AIM (AOL Instant Messenger) 6.9.17.2
- Average user rating: 2.4 stars out of 403 votes
- My rating: 0 stars Write review
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Showing 5 of 9 user reviewsSee all 9 user reviews
This software version | All versions -
Version: AIM (AOL Instant Messenger) 6.9.17.2
Pros: Still very clear
Cons: none that I could find
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Version: AIM (AOL Instant Messenger) 6.9.17.2
"keeps losing the signal have to sign on again and again"
Pros: to keep in touch with family and friends
Cons: see the above comments
Summary: see the above comments
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0 out of 1 people found this review helpful
Version: AIM (AOL Instant Messenger) 6.9.17.2
"Its average and not very exciting at all"
Pros: None except it sits there on your taskbar
Cons: It's boring
Summary: Average
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0 out of 1 people found this review helpful
Version: AIM (AOL Instant Messenger) 6.9.17.2
Pros: nothing it is AOL
Cons: not very good
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0 out of 1 people found this review helpful
Version: AIM (AOL Instant Messenger) 6.9.17.2
"It works... but could work better."
Pros: -It works.
-It looks better than the older versions.
-No real problems with instant messaging features.Cons: -Default installation includes too many useless features and programs, use custom.
-While it looks better than the older versions, it still has a long way to go to actually look good.
-Compared to other IM programs, it's hard on resources.Summary: AIM is making some progress, but it still looks like something that could have come out in 2003... and yet, it takes more resources on my computer than Windows Live Messenger 2009, Yahoo Messenger or Myspace IM (with Skype). I'm not sure what causes... read more >>
- See all 9 user reviews Write review
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