AOL Instant Messenger 4.5 For Mac OS X Now Available in Beta

Business Wire, March 30, 2001

Business Editors/Hi-Tech Writers

DULLES, Va.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 30, 2001

America Online, Inc., the world's leading interactive services company, today announced that the beta release of AOL Instant Messenger(sm) (AIM)(sm) version 4.5 for Mac OS X, Apple's next generation operating system, is now available for download at www.aol.com/aim.

One of AOL's popular interactive brands, the AIM service is a free instant messaging product for Internet consumers that makes it convenient to see when friends and family are online and communicate with them in real time.

Raul Mujica, General Manager, AOL Instant Messenger, said: "We developed for the new Mac OS X operating system as part of our ongoing support of the Macintosh market and so that consumers can enjoy the AIM service from any computer. We're pleased to release this beta version of the AIM service and look forward to continuing to provide increased benefits to our Macintosh users."

The beta release of the AIM 4.5 for Mac OS X instant messaging software continues to offer the ability to send and receive instant text messages and participate in private or group chat rooms.

It includes the Buddy List(R) feature, a personalized list that makes it easy for users to see when friends and family are online, which AIM users can view from any computer they use - whether they are at home or work. AIM 4.5 for Mac OS X also delivers customized news and stock quotes updated throughout the day, integrated Web searching, and access to Yellow and White pages.

Additionally, the AIM service provides a number of privacy preferences that users can customize such as an "allow" list to let only people they know send instant messages to them, or see when they are online; a "block" list to prevent other users from communicating with them; and the ability to impose "warnings" against users who send unwanted messages.

Other features recently introduced with the AIM service that are available in AIM 4.5 for Mac OS X include Mail Alerts, which lets users with AOL Mail e-mail accounts receive automatic alerts when new e-mail arrives in their mailbox. With the Automatic Upgrade feature, AIM users can be notified whenever a new version is available, and simply upgrade by the click of a button.

AIM users can also participate in groups set up through Groups@AOL, a popular online feature that makes it easy for people to share photos, plan events, and stay in touch with friends and family.

As AIM users join a group - with their teammates, alumni club, family members and more - they can easily add the screen names of the other group participants to their Buddy List feature so they can stay in touch "instantly" whenever they're online.

About America Online, Inc.

America Online, Inc. is a wholly owned subsidiary of AOL Time Warner, Inc. (NYSE:AOL). Based in Dulles, Virginia, America Online is the world's leader in interactive services, Web brands, Internet technologies and e-commerce services.