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AOL relaxes licensing rules for building mobile IM apps

Author

Giselle Tsirulnik

AOL has launched Open AIM 2.0, giving developers access to the AIM instant messaging network, which now supports third-party chat services and instant messaging applications designed for mobile.

Web-based messaging providers meebo and eBuddy were the first to sign on to the new program.

"Up to this point the only mobile applications for mobile were built by large development shops," said Gregory Cypes, tech lead of Open Aim, Manassas, VA. "We want small garage shops to be able to as well.

"We are relaxing the licensing agreement that kept individuals from building applications for mobile," he said. "Removing that license lets people take advantage of the platform that AIM provides."

AOL is publishing at http://dev.aol.com/openaim the OSCAR protocol, which is the proprietary instant messaging and presence information protocol used by AIM. Third-party developers can build AIM services for use on platforms that also host other chat services, both on the desktop and on mobile devices.

Developers can use the existing SDKs and APIs to build software designed for users who wish to access the AIM messaging network from their mobile phones. Protections in the license agreements ensure that mobile applications built on the AIM platform remain free and open in line with the Open AIM program goals.

Also, developers will find an improved Open AIM 2.0 Web site at http://dev.aol.com/openaim with better navigation, more documentation and sample code, including Open AIM tutorials, blogs, tech notes and articles.

AOL has teamed up with TopCoder Inc., an online programming, skills assessment and competitive software development firm, to help with the Open AIM Developer Challenge that will run March 5 through May 6. The aim is to find the most innovative creation built using the Open AIM APIs.

There will be $100,000 in prizes and the winners will be announced at the TopCoder Open in Las Vegas on May 15. More details are available at http://www.topcoder.com/openaim.

"I think the idea is we are giving choice to consumers and letting developers build clients that users want with the features they want," Mr. Cypes said.