AIMSTER AIMS AT OTHER
INSTANT MESSENGERS
Aimster, the file sharing application add-on for America Onlines' instant messaging that lets chat buddies swap MP3 files, announced yesterday (10/17) that with its next version, expected in two weeks, users will be able to chat and share files with users of several IM platforms, including Yahoo! Messenger and Microsoft Messenger. It will not, however, make your chat buddies any smarter.
Aimster's ability to get instant messenger services to work across platforms is a big deal in the non-music world, in part because AOL has come under fire from rivals for not opening its IM service to outsiders. As part of its investigation into the AOL-Time Warner merger, the Federal Communications Commission asked AOL to provide info on its IM service, including licensing agreements with other IM providers.
Aimster, which is an unauthorized piggy-back application not affiliated with AOL, was launched Aug. 9. Aimster puts a "skin"—a different graphical interface—on top of AOL's IM. When a user does a search, Aimster checks the hard drive of each person on a the user'sbuddy list who uses Aimster.
The Troy, N.Y-based company claims to already have 2 million users. The company was contracted by Capitol Records to promote Radiohead's "Kid A" album, but we were confused by the technology and never did figure out how it worked.
