Editing AIM (software) (section)

{{Short description|Instant messaging service}}
{{pp-move}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=October 2017}}
{{distinguish|AIM alliance{{!}}the AIM alliance}}
{{Infobox software
| name = AOL Instant Messenger
| logo = Logo of AOL Instant Messenger (2011).png
| logo caption = AIM's logo introduced in December 2011, replacing the earlier "running man" mascot
| screenshot = AIM 2013 screenshot.png
| caption = Windows version of AIM (2013 release)
| developer = [[AOL]]
| released = {{start date and age|1997|05}}
| discontinued = yes
| latest release version = <!--?-->
| latest release date = <!--?-->
| programming language = [[C++]], [[Adobe Flash]]
| operating system = [[Microsoft Windows]], [[Windows Mobile]], [[macOS]], [[Android (operating system)|Android]], [[iOS]], [[BlackBerry OS]], [[Android TV]]
| genre = [[Instant messaging]]
| license = [[proprietary software|Proprietary]]
| website = 
}}

'''AOL Instant Messenger''' ('''AIM''', sometimes stylized as '''aim''') was an [[instant messaging]] and [[presence information]] computer program created by [[AOL]]. It used the proprietary [[OSCAR protocol|OSCAR instant messaging protocol]] and the [[TOC protocol]] to allow users to communicate in real time.

AIM was popular by the late 1990s; teens and college students were known to use the messenger's away message feature to keep in touch with friends, often frequently changing their away message throughout a day or leaving a message up with one's computer left on to inform buddies of their ongoings, location, parties, thoughts, or jokes.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna5404762|title=Away messages keep users in touch|website=[[NBC News]]|date=July 9, 2004 |access-date=September 7, 2021|archive-date=September 7, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210907080237/https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna5404762|url-status=dead}}</ref> AIM's popularity declined as AOL subscribers started decreasing and steeply towards the 2010s, as [[Gmail]]'s [[Google Talk]], SMS, and Internet social networks, like [[Facebook]] gained popularity. Its fall has often been compared with other once-popular Internet services, such as [[Myspace]].<ref name="mashable"/><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://techcrunch.com/2017/10/06/aol-instant-messenger-shut-down/|title=AOL Instant Messenger is shutting down after 20 years|date=October 6, 2017|access-date=September 7, 2021|archive-date=September 7, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210907063611/https://techcrunch.com/2017/10/06/aol-instant-messenger-shut-down/|url-status=live}}</ref>

In June 2015, AOL was acquired by [[Verizon Communications]].<ref name="buyout-cnbc">{{cite news|last1=Imbert|first1=Fred|title=Verizon to buy AOL for $4.4B; AOL shares soar|url=https://www.cnbc.com/2015/05/12/verizon-to-buy-aol-for-44-billion.html|publisher=CNBC|access-date=May 12, 2015|date=May 12, 2015|archive-date=July 3, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150703103324/https://www.cnbc.com/id/102670331|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Sawers |first=Paul |url=https://venturebeat.com/2015/06/23/verizon-completes-4-4b-acquisition-of-aol/ |title=Verizon completes $4.4B acquisition of AOL |work=VentureBeat |date=June 23, 2015 |access-date=June 23, 2015 |archive-date=June 23, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150623184318/http://venturebeat.com/2015/06/23/verizon-completes-4-4b-acquisition-of-aol/ |url-status=live }}</ref> In June 2017, Verizon combined AOL and Yahoo into its subsidiary Oath Inc. (now called [[Verizon Media|Yahoo]]). The company discontinued AIM as a service on December 15, 2017.<ref name="retirement">{{cite web |last=Albers |first=Michael |date=October 6, 2017 |title=One Last Away Message |url=https://aimemories.tumblr.com/ |url-status=live |access-date=October 5, 2017 |work=AOL Instant Messenger (AIM) on Tumblr |publisher=[[Oath Inc.]] |archive-date=October 6, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171006144753/https://aimemories.tumblr.com/ }}</ref>