According to a recent circulating e-mail, AOL was planning to take away free AIM by July 14, 2000. AIM is a service free of cost that allows users to send instant messages, share files, use chat rooms and speak directly to people through their computer's microphone. Over 50 million people use AIM, and many of those people received a forwarded email, whose originator is unknown, stating that AOL was planning to do away with it as a free service. Who knows how these things get started. AIM is a tremendous success, a very vibrant community and a terrific product.
College students are especially pleased that the rumor is false.
Because it is a free service, students at college enjoy using it to keep in touch with their friends.