• by Shankar Gupta , October 4, 2006

AOL today will make available a new downloadable software program that combines Web browsing, e-mail, video and search into one ad-supported, free application.

The platform, AOL OpenRide, marks an upgrade to AOL's existing software, and is designed specifically with broadband users in mind. The product includes a browser that is powered by Internet Explorer, an e-mail program that can access any POP3 e-mail account--including G-mail and Yahoo Mail--an AOL Video player, and an instant messaging product based on AIM's newest iteration, Triton.

Roy Ben-Yoseph, a director of product management at AOL, said the new product aimed to consolidate key offerings in one platform. "This is an experience for broadband users that takes the most important experiences on the Web--e-mail, instant message, browsing and media--and puts them into a single experience," he said.

The free product will include a number of ad opportunities. Videos played on the media player will have pre-roll ads, the e-mail program will contain display ads, the browser will start on an AOL page with display ads, and the search bar will lead to an AOL search results page, powered and monetized by Google.

Yoseph added that although the OpenRide platform is a "nice, evolutionary choice" up from the existing AOL software, it is not intended as a replacement, and AOL users could choose any of the software platforms offered by AOL, such as AOL 9.0.

In August, AOL stopped charging subscription fees to its broadband users, in an effort to build traffic. Since then, AOL has made a host of additional services available for free.