http://www.aol.com/aim
AIM is the most popular messaging service in the US (3rd in the UK) and was originally only available to subscribers to the AOL Internet service. However, it is now available to anyone with Internet access.
Features include:
- Person-to-person text messaging
- Audio chat (PC-to-PC calls)
- Video conferencing
- File transfer and sharing
- Chat room messaging
- E-mail facilities
- SMS
- Gaming
- Customised avatars
- Feature available that lets you stay connected to the service even if your Internet connection is briefly cut off
- Does not require approval from one buddy to be added to another's buddy list
- Web-based version available (has limited features, but does not require any software to be installed).