In the late 1990s, I was in college (age hint). So imagine how excited we were to exchange instant messages on the computer! Also, they got them instantly! Goodbye AOL Instant Messenger.
America Online (AOL) Instant Messenger came out in 1997. In the late 1990s, it was the most popular way to communicate online, even more so that the email. Furthermore, they created a ‘buddy’s list’. That’s a list of people you contact on a frequent basis. By 2001, AOL had over 100 million users. Between the late 1990s-early 2000s, AOL dominated the instant messenger market. In fact, it even beat Microsoft.
But the popularity of instant messaging became AOL’s downfall. Before too long, Google Chat took off. Then came text messaging on phones. And of course, you had the rise of Facebook, Twitter and other social media platforms. So yesterday, they said Goodbye AOL Instant Messenger. Yesterday, leaders announced it will discontinue the AOL service starting December 15, 2016. After this, AOL users will no longer be able to use their ID or password to sign in. Also, all their messages and other info will be deleted. However, people honored this goodbye to AOL by telling their favorite memories of AOL. Some even made cute images and tributes…through Twitter.
It’s amazing how IT support changes. But much of it wouldn’t be here if it were not for AOL Instant messaging. For instance, there would be no text messing if not for this. There would be no Facebook messenger without AOL messenger. Nor would there be dating chat rooms. In fact, I doubt there would even be Twitter without AOL Instant messenger.? When I started computer servicing, Google chat was the main instant messaging service, but AOL chat was still respectable. But now, it’s almost gone. So I think AOL Instant Messenger for the innovation, not to mention all the memories. What are your memories of AOL messenger?