AOL, WebEx team up on instant-messaging

America Online Inc. and WebEx Communications Inc. are teaming up to provide a business version of AOL's popular AIM instant-messaging software.

Called AIM Pro, the business version will offer more security — communications, for instance, will be encrypted — and more features to help workers collaborate, using conferencing tools offered by WebEx, based in Santa Clara, Calif.

AIM Pro users can communicate with those on the basic AIM, although not all features, including encryption, would be fully available.

For Subscribers

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Prices were not announced, but AOL said a monthly subscription fee is likely.  Individual employees will be able to subscribe, or a company may order a version with centralized management controls for all its workers.

Instant-messaging took off among home users first, but in recent years employees have installed the software, usually on their own, as an alternative to phones and e-mail.

For Subscribers

FOR SUBSCRIBERSAbdul El-Sayed tries to woo MAHA voters as Democrats seek inroads with RFK’s supporters

FOR SUBSCRIBERSKratom-like substances are popping up in a typically benign supplement

FOR SUBSCRIBERSGOP super PAC increases its spending for Sen. Jon Husted in tough Ohio race

FOR SUBSCRIBERSRecords reveal tumultuous marriage between slain New York Times executive and wife

FOR SUBSCRIBERSFrom clean energy warrior to ‘wall of shame,’ James Talarico reverses on a fossil fuel money pledge

FOR SUBSCRIBERSCongressional staff planned official trip with luxury stops in Italy and France weeks before election

FOR SUBSCRIBERSA harrowing ordeal aboard an Israel-bound plane

FOR SUBSCRIBERSOpenAI CEO Sam Altman to skip congressional hearing on rogue AI agents

FOR SUBSCRIBERSKey DOJ lawyers departed Trump ‘grand conspiracy’ probe amid pressure to produce, source says

FOR SUBSCRIBERSTrump’s new AI chatbot often links to a site launched under Clinton 26 years ago

FOR SUBSCRIBERSAt MAHA summit, industry CEOs the movement once vilified take the stage

FOR SUBSCRIBERSThis Paralympian has two goals: Win medals and give away $500,000 to her teammates

FOR SUBSCRIBERSCornell rape allegation spotlights stringent New York state laws that have long drawn criticism

FOR SUBSCRIBERSThe debate over AI’s future rages on both coasts

FOR SUBSCRIBERSDecades-old march dispute reignites in Northern Ireland, threatening political crisis

AOL, a unit of Time Warner Inc., responded by developing add-ons such as teleconferencing and Web conferencing aimed at small businesses.  AOL said AIM Pro goes further by offering standalone software built expressly with businesses in mind.

"The new service will bring business-class IM, online conferencing, collaboration, desktop sharing and advanced multimedia services to the global workplace," said Brian Curry, vice president for premium and subscription services at AOL.