AOL Canada has started offering VoIP service in Canada, according to Mark Evans. I think it is a baby step for the company; if it works and has a good uptake, then expect this service to be rolled out in the US and elsewhere. They are doing something similar in France as well. Canadian prices are high, which is a pretty dumb marketing strategy. But then AOL is by the dummies, for the dummies.
Hope you’ll remember that they are still pretty big in AIM. Having innovated “presence” so to speak — they know a thing or two.
Don’t underestimate AIM. Lots of folks use it — even the execs at big time VoIP service providers are using AIM.
Close your eyes and imagine that AOL wasn’t an Internet Service Provider. Now you see this software — AOL Instant Messenger … kinda looks like Microsoft now doesn’t it. A software company … So even if they never run the biggest VoIP network on the planet — which I’m sure is the case — they are a player in VoIP because of their brand name (which I am not an expert on) but most certainly because of the depth of reach of AIM and the associations with presence and communications.
Hope you’ll remember that they are still pretty big in AIM. Having innovated “presence” so to speak — they know a thing or two.
Don’t underestimate AIM. Lots of folks use it — even the execs at big time VoIP service providers are using AIM.
Close your eyes and imagine that AOL wasn’t an Internet Service Provider. Now you see this software — AOL Instant Messenger kinda looks like Microsoft now doesn’t it. A software company … So even if they never run the biggest VoIP network on the planet — which I’m sure is the case — they are a player in VoIP because of their brand name (which I am not an expert on) but most certainly because of the depth of reach of AIM and the associations with presence and communications.