What it could do instead is coming up with a rather stylish new interface and pretty good integration of various must-have features. The reinvented version of AIM could not bring all the users back together. It stands as the most negative example of interest lack shown in the security of any IM client. AIM is clearly a shadow of the once great application. Leaving QQ International aside, the community revolves around three major IM clients: Windows Live Messenger, Skype and Yahoo! Messenger with hundreds of millions of active users. From a staggering number of users around one hundred million in 2006, a mere four million active users have not taken sides with the competition. It all crumbled to pieces and once AIM fans have turned their backs on the application, migrating to other social networks and, implicitly, other instant messaging programs. It was all about the vulnerabilities its team was unable to fix and patch, thus the increased security weakness has taken its toll on the number of user sign-ins. The downfall of an industry giantĪfter that, AIM had one of the most amazing downfalls in recorded IT history, with a ravishing 0.73% market share reported in June 2011.

Backed by the US Internet mogul America Online (AOL), this particular piece of software had a great run within its first ten years. AIM, also known as AOL Instant Messenger, requires no presentation, as it’s one of the first instant messaging applications to ever step into the scene back in 1997.

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