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AOL Opening API Make It Interesting |
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Written by Adam Gosling
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Friday, 08 September 2006 |
Though its market penetration outside the United States
is no where near as impressive, the decision by AOL to lift its skirts on AIM
Phoneline could spark a lot of interest The company has already announced three
partners which will demonstrate solutions based onthe API's.
AOL's instant messaging application AIM has about 43 million
users in the U.S. and with the recent ditching of its TotalTalk ATA VOIP
solution the company can now expend 100 per cent of its efforts getting those
users using its VoIM (Voice over Instant Massaging) solution, AIM Phoneline.
To really kick start increased adoption rates, the company
has announced it will add its VoIP service to the Open AIM initiative, a community of 50,000 developers creating add -on products to the instant messaging
client.
"We want developers to help drive AIM Phoneline in
innovative new directions - to make their mark on the service and make some
money at the same time," as company statement says.
As well as software add-ons AOL is hoping the developer
program can rustle up some interest from hardware manufacturers to get some
headsets and handsets out in the market a la Skype phones.
But the possibilities go further. It means the AIM Phoneline
system could be used as a base VoIP system for entirely different applications -
as plumbing.
AOL will introduce the three application programming
interfaces (APIs) in the coming months. They will allow developers to build
systems that a) personalize the AIM Phoneline service by adding ringback tones
and unique ring tones for frequent callers, b) enable USB devices such as
speakerphones and phone adapters, and c)build call management functionality
into the AIM Phoneline service such as context and relevance-based call
handling.
AOL is showcasing examples of solutions APIs at Fall VON
2006 in Boston.
Iotum, MyNumo
and mVox, are
three partners already up and running with the APIs.
Iotum is building an intelligent call management service
that decides what to do with a call based on their Relevance Engine. MyNuMo is
an online content community that that will focus more on the personalization API.
Mvox Technologies will demonstrate examples of its handsfree and wireless MV900
and USB MV100 speakerphones with AIM Phoneline.
"AOL recognizes the value of the developer community in
driving innovation and rapidly delivering new and compelling services,"
stated Ragui Kamel, senior vice president and general manager of AOL's voice
services.
"By building on the popularity of the Open AIM program and
opening the AIM Phoneline platform we are excited about helping to unleash the
creativity and bring about new and unique voice communication services to one
of the largest online communities."
As part of the Open AIM Phoneline program, AOL will promote
its partners' applications and devices at an online store that users can assess
by simply clicking the "Shop" link off of the AIM Phoneline
dashboard.
www.aimphoneline.com/developers
http://developer.aim.com/
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