AOL News

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AOL News


Here's a summary of the AOL breaking news this morning followed by two AOL news releases:

* America Online, Inc. today announced the official launch of AIM® Mail, its free, Web-based e-mail service that offers industry leading spam and virus protection, two gigbytes of storage and seamless integration with the AIM service via the AIM.com domain.

*AOL also announced the general availability of the updated AIM 5.9 software, which offers one-click access to AIM Mail, an expanded Buddy List feature that can accommodate up to 400 buddies and store more contact information on each one, as well as twice as much writing space for more creative Away Messages.

* A system-wide auto-upgrade will begin rolling out across the AIM network during which each of the 22 million active AIM users will be presented with the opportunity to activate their AIM Mail account and enroll in a special sweepstakes promotion with prizes that include Sony PSPs, T-Mobile Sidekicks, iPod Shuffles and a 2005 MINI Copper S.

* In a separate press release, AOL announced that it will increase the e-mail storage that it provides to AOL members to an unlimited capacity. AOL is the first online service to offer unlimited e-mail storage.

* In the coming weeks, AOL members using nearly 80 million AOL® Mail accounts will be able to save and store an unlimited number of e-mails, attachments and folders on AOL's servers.

* As a part of this change, AOL introduced the Multiple Simultaneous Log-Ins feature for members on dial-up. This feature enables up to seven AOL® Screen Names on a single account to sign into the AOL service at the same time and from multiple locations.

AIM® MAIL NOW AVAILABLE

Free Web-Based E-mail Service Offers Two Gigabytes of Storage, Spam and Virus Protections Plus Integration with the AOL® Instant Messenger(TM) (AIM®) Service

Nationwide Advertising Campaign and Consumer Sweepstakes Kick Off Today; Prizes Include Sony® PSPs, Apple® iPod® Shuffles, a 2005 MINI® Cooper and More

DULLES, VA June 6, 2005 America Online, Inc. today announced the official launch and marketing debut of AIM® Mail, its free, Web-based e-mail service found at www.aim.com. AIM Mail, which offers industry leading spam and virus protection as well as two gigabytes of storage, lets users use their AIM® Screen Name as their e-mail address. It provides seamless integration with the AOL® Instant Messenger(TM) (AIM®) service and introduces the AIM.com e-mail domain, leveraging one of the most popular brands on the Web.

The new AIM Mail service is being made available to AIM users today via an updated version of the AIM 5.9 software. Other improvements to the current AIM service include one-click access to AIM Mail, an expanded Buddy List® feature that can now accommodate up to 400 buddies and store more contact information on each one, as well as twice as much writing space for more creative Away Messages.

To promote the free AIM Mail service, America Online today launched an online advertising campaign and nationwide consumer sweepstakes. AIM users who activate their AIM Mail account can register to become eligible to win daily prizes, including Starbucks® gift cards, T-Mobile® Sidekicks(TM), Apple® iPod® Shuffles and Sony® PlayStation® Portables (PSPs). One lucky grand prize winner will even drive away with a 2005 MINI Copper S.

"We are very excited to invite AIM users to activate their AIM Mail accounts, which are ready and available today," added Chamath Palihapitiya, vice president and general manager for AIM and ICQ, America Online, Inc. "We are also thanking our users for making their AIM Screen Name a core part of their identity by giving them the chance to win really cool prizes simply by activating their AIM Mail."

A system-wide auto-upgrade will begin rolling out across the AIM® network this week, during which each of the 22 million AIM users will be given the opportunity to activate their AIM Mail account, enroll in the sweepstakes promotion and extend the sweepstakes offer to their friends.

AIM Mail's sleek interface and industry leading, client-like feature set is based on technology from Mailblocks, Inc., a consumer Web-based e-mail service acquired by America Online in July 2004. Both current AIM users and Internet users at large can access AIM Mail by visiting AIM.com and/or by downloading the updated AIM 5.9 software.

Editor's Note: A complete list of AIM Mail features is available on request.


AMERICA ONLINE ANNOUNCES UNLIMITED E-MAIL STORAGE FOR AOL® MEMBERS

Also Introduces Multiple Simultaneous Log-Ins Feature for AOL® Accounts

DULLES, VA June 6, 2005 America Online announced today that it will increase the e-mail storage that it provides to members of the AOL® service to an unlimited capacity. AOL is the first online service to offer unlimited e-mail storage.

In addition to the state-of-the-art e-mail services AOL already offers its members, including industry-leading spam and virus protection, in the coming weeks, AOL members using nearly 80 million AOL® Mail accounts will be able to save and store an unlimited number of e-mails, attachments and folders on AOL's servers.

"With unprecedented e-mail storage capacity, our members will be able to keep every single message and attachment they ever receive, if they wish," said Mark Greatrex, executive vice president, Access Marketing, America Online, Inc. "Unlimited storage resources will enable members to save and access to all of their e-mail content, attachments and folders, anytime, anywhere, and easily share them with friends and family."

Unlimited e-mail storage capacity is part of the comprehensive package of features AOL provides as part of AOL® membership. Other valuable features available to members at no additional charge include:

** McAfee® VirusScan® Online, a leading virus-protection program that automatically updates when the user is online, protecting the whole computer from known viruses, trojans, and worms. AOL is the only online service to offer world-class virus protection to both its high-speed and dial-up members at no extra charge.

** AOL® Spyware Protection with the added SpyZapper(TM) feature that automatically targets the most disruptive forms of spyware and other programs that may interfere with members' online experience.

** Simplified Spam Control tools and SpIM (instant message spam) protection to make it even easier for members to keep their e-mail box and instant messages free of spam.

** Award-winning, comprehensive Parental Controls to help protect members' families as they use the Internet, with an array of features, including Teens Search and an IM Safety List feature that lets parents approve who can contact their kids via instant messages.

In addition, AOL also introduced today the Multiple Simultaneous Log-Ins feature to members on dial-up connections, which enables up to seven AOL® Screen Names on a single account to sign into the AOL service at the same time and from multiple locations. Previously, this feature was only available to members accessing AOL over a high-speed Internet connection.

Now, dial-up users with home networking equipment will be able to have one Screen Name connected via a dial-up connection while the up to six remaining Screen Names may log on using a high-speed connection. Like unlimited e-mail storage, the Multiple Simultaneous Log-Ins feature is available at no additional charge.



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