TO CLOSE

After 20 years of faithful service, AOL Instant Messenger, aka AIM, will be closed. According to AOL, the service will become black on December 15, 2017.
USA TODAY & # 39; HUI

Like Yahoo, AOL was a leading technology property at its peak, but the company stumbled as the most lucrative Web options transferred to search engine advertising and that telecom and cable companies were offering Internet connections directly to consumers.(Photo: Axel Heimken, AP)

AOL Instant Messenger (AIM) has risen from the ashes.

Now called AIM Phoenix, the popular email application of the late 90's and early 2000's is back. But this time it's not run by America online.

Although AIM uses the same software that loyal fans have grown, the reincarnated service is run by Wildman Productions, a nonprofit game development team.

Since it is no longer affiliated with AOL, there is no access to old contact lists or messages. However, you have the option to hang the user name that you have always dreamed of having. Or, in the name of nostalgia, you can register using your old references before someone else takes it.

More: RIP AIM: AOL Instant Messenger is gone

More: Yahoo executives in Verizon's new leadership team

More: Smiletime now pop.in for video chat rooms

When it was launched in 1997, AIM was an essential part of personal computers. Created as an extension of the AOL desktop software, the IM client has helped revolutionize the way people interact online. But the popularity of the service has diminished as social networking sites like Facebook and Twitter supported the social scene online.

AOL officially closed the service at the end of last year, citing a "cultural shift" in the way people communicate.

How to register:

Download the old version from the Phoenix AIM website where you will be prompted to choose from 10 different version options ranging from 1.0 to AIM Lite.

If you opt for the Lite version, you can choose from nine different themes including Gray Moose, RedBull and Pink Sparkles.

Then you can sign up for an account and log in using your new credentials.

Finally, change the settings to redirect the server from America Online to Wildman Productions. You will need to convince some of your friends and family members to join the service because your AIM contacts from the past are erased.

Read or share this story: https://usat.ly/2twP9mH