iChat/AIM tied to AOL service?

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cygsidcygsid
Posted:
in macOS edited January 2014
I would like to give iChat a try but none of my friends seem to have an AIM account. I often hear however that it is one of the most popular instant messaging networks. Does one have to be an AOL (or iChat) user in order to be an AIM network member, or are the two services completely independent? For some reason I thought Mac users were not exactly AOL lovers so I find it a bit surprising that Apple would go for the AIM network for their iChat application if it's strongly tied to AOL (the service), especially that the latter is pretty US-centric (most of my IM contacts are based elsewhere).



Assuming AOL and AIM are independent, how can I search for AIM members (can't do it from iChat unfortuantely, unlike other IM software)?

Comments

  • Reply 1 of 3
    spartspart Posts: 2,060member
    AIM and AOL are basically the same thing, anon AIM users can't get info on AOL users and a lot of other things, but beyond that you can converse with them through AIM clients (Official or clones.)



    I hardly use anything but AIM...with Proteus I connect to ICQ and MSN but my MSN buddy list is quite small, ~25 contacts. Then again, there is less mass screen-name registrations due to the fact that you can change the way your name is displayed. Ah well.
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  • Reply 2 of 3
    dogcowdogcow Posts: 713member
    AOL is an ISP, a monthly subscription to get online. AIM is a chat network that you can access using either AOL or any other ISP (earthlink, RCN, etc). iChat is client software that runs on the AIM network, it is an alternative to using the AIM client that AOL makes available for free. Anyone with an internet connection can sign up for an AIM account using iChat or the official AIM client from AOL. iChat can use your @mac.com login name as a screen name on its network. Basically by sticking @mac.com at the end of your screen name it guaranteed that it would be available.



    As far as friendships go... AOL was first a mac only service and anything not Microsoft is arguably good for Apple. AIM can be used by anyone on any ISP.



    The AIM search feature is mostly useless. The best way to get people's screen names is to just ask.
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  • Reply 3 of 3
    stevesteve Posts: 523member
    Apple and AOL/Netscape seem to be getting extremely close lately. For example, the maps in Sherlock are provided by AOL/Netscape's MapQuest site, and the default homepage is set to an Apple Netscape page. AOL has also implemented the Gecko rendering engine into its OS X client before the Windows one, as a testing ground of sorts. I can only see the two companies getting closer and closer.



    I see this as a good thing. The more huge companies that Apple ties itself to, the better chance it has of being perceived as a staying company.
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