AOL Asks Developers To Work On AIM-based VoIP

My my. How AOL has changed! Apart from copying Digg, opening up all their content and buying into a blog network, AOL are now looking for developers to build applications around their new IM-based VoIP service using the new AIM APIs. The program, called Open AIM already has some 50,000 developers on board.

I just wonder, based on their past, how will this service go down? Are they going to build a VoIP service and basically copy Skype? Even if they do build a Skype clone, will it take off? I know AIM is the most popular IM client in the USA, but that doesn’t necessarily mean they’ll automatically knock Skype off their throne. What it does mean is VoIP getting hotter than it already is. And that’s good news for everyone in the industry.