Fergie's Tech Blog

AOL's 'AIM Phoneline' Ofers Free Local Phone Number

Kevin Maney writes in USA Today:

AOL is close to unveiling a voice-over-Internet service, based on its AIM instant messenger, that would give any AIM user a local phone number for free.

Dubbed AIM Phoneline, the free number would only allow for incoming calls from any telephone, AOL executives say. Still, it's the first offer of a free number. To get a number that can be called on Skype costs about $4 a month.

An upgraded version, AIM Phoneline Unlimited, will cost $14.95 a month and allow the user to make calls to all local and long-distance numbers and 30 foreign countries. Calls would have to be made using a headset plugged into a computer and logged onto AIM through a broadband connection. AOL plans to announce the service in late-May.

posted by Fergie @ 5/04/2006 05:04:00 PM