AOL Finally Releases New Beta Windows Mobile AIM Client

[Paul Martin]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://beta.aol.com/projects.php?project=aimwinmobile' target='_blank'>http://beta.aol.com/projects.php?pr...ct=aimwinmobile</a><br /><br /></div><em>&quot;AIM for Windows Mobile brings all of the best features of AIM on your PC to your Windows Mobile smartphone! AIM for Windows Mobile lets you communicate whenever you want, wherever you are, in whatever way suits you best - IM or text. Update your AIM status and information when you're on the go. Change your conversation style, manage your Buddy List, and much more. AIM Windows Mobile Smartphone has many of the same key features and a familiar look-and-feel of the desktop AIM client.&nbsp; This build of AIM Mobile does not have an Update Mechanism available. This means you will have to return to beta.aol.com and check if a new build of AIM for Windows Mobile is available. The Update Mechanism will be included in a future build. AIM for Windows Mobile supports devices with the Windows Mobile 5 and Windows Mobile 6 operating systems.&quot;</em><br /><br /><img alt="" border="1" src="http://images.thoughtsmedia.com//spt/auto/1214671194.usr251.png" /><br /><br />If you use AOL's instant messenger service, you might want to give the <a href="javascript:void(0);/*1214671577279*/">new beta</a> a try.&nbsp; While the eye-candy looks nice, it's a beta so bear that in mind and be sure to give feedback.&nbsp; For those using this on a smartphone, AIM uses your data plan, not SMS.&nbsp; If you use AIM, what IM client are you currently using?

[rzanology]

the UI is very nice indeed. but it pulls something close to 10mb in resources. so its a mem hog without a doubt. but they're heading in the right direction with this one. very impressed!

[JKingGrim]

Excellent! I hope they trim the memory usage and that this shapes up to be a great AIM client! Long overdue. I highly regret paying $50 for Agile. I don't know what I was thinking. I don't even use it anymore. I discovered the free Palringo and like it better.

[starstreak]

At least with this aim, it signs in. It seems with 3rd party IMs, it a hit or miss to sign into AIM. Still very beta. doesn't IM when the phone is in standby, if you close the window(and its running in background) and you get a IM, you hear the IM sound, but nothing else. You have to launch the program to see what happened. Nothing on the today screen or a notification message.

[starstreak]

JKingGrim- OT sorry. I saw your post. I paid for +IM, and that palringo program is the bomb! It's free, the voice IM and photo send works. And so far each attempt to log into AIM worked. Maybe I'm just getting lucky at logging in today. Still needs to be cleaned up a bit. Not sure if I like how you have to click and hold on a name to text to instead of doubleclicking and theres no today display and havn't figured out how to change the ring tone or add vibrate. But its nice for the "core" IMing. Thanks for the headsup.

[JKingGrim]

JKingGrim- OT sorry. I saw your post. I paid for +IM, and that palringo program is the bomb! It's free, the voice IM and photo send works. And so far each attempt to log into AIM worked. Maybe I'm just getting lucky at logging in today. Still needs to be cleaned up a bit. Not sure if I like how you have to click and hold on a name to text to instead of doubleclicking and theres no today display and havn't figured out how to change the ring tone or add vibrate. But its nice for the "core" IMing. Thanks for the headsup.No problem. Sign in works every time for me too. It does vibrate. You should be able to enable this in the preferences. I don't think the sound can be changed though. I agree, a few things could be tweaked though. I havent seen an update from them in a while unfortunately but there is an active discussion forum for it where I posted some suggestions. AIM Mobile beta also has a discussion forum, and I posted suggestions for AIM there. It seems that they do plan to improve, as they request that you sign up for notifications for new beta versions. I hope the development on it is fast because I really like it but it needs some work. Another first impression after having it signed in all day, it seems it kinda drains battery. With Palringo I didnt notice a difference in my battery life.

[starstreak]

I hope so. Both programs need to be polished more to be useable. I like the AIM as it "looks" like it, but many things still missing, and it is "slow".
The other program is faster but still missing things to make it friendlier.

[JKingGrim]

New beta already. A few improvements. If the device is alseep, it will now awake on a new IM, but no sound plays and still no vibrate. I hope they keep the pace up.

[SomeAudioGuy]

eh...
Windows Mobile IM has never been that great. The best one was the one that would wake your device with an sms. Can't remember what that was called...

I was using Fring for a while, but pretty much only used it for twitter. Skype calling never worked well on it.

I'll have to check out this palringo...