• by Shankar Gupta , August 16, 2005

AOL Monday launched a portal designed to help mobile users--from owners of the sleekest new RAZRs to the oldest, shoebox-sized models--determine whether their devices can be used to receive e-mails, provide access to the Web, support ringtones, or perform a host of other functions.

Initially, the site is essentially an aggregation of current AOL mobile services--Mobile AIM and mobile AOL Mail--along with information about mobile phones and carriers. In addition to the AOL services, the site offers ringtones and mobile games for purchase; instructions on how to receive news, weather, and sports alerts; and advice on how to use local search on a mobile phone or device. The few remaining cell phone holdouts can also find a use for the Mobile portal--by shopping for a mobile phone and a plan.

Rajive Mathur, vice president of AOLMobile.com, said the site will roll out other features that will incorporate additional AOL tools and services. "MapQuest, Moviefone--extending those services to the mobile device is really what we're looking to do," he said. "Various AOL services--whether it's local or the dining guide, or search--those are the kinds of things that would be prime candidates for the site."

The site itself features display ads, but does not serve any ads to users' mobile phones at this time. Mathur said, however, that mobile ads are under consideration. "Mobile advertising is an important part of where the industry is going, and at some point we may experiment with that," he said.

The site is available to both AOL subscribers and non-members, although some premium services may require either a free AOL Instant Messenger registration or a full, paid account with AOL.