AOL has released a beta version of AOL MyMobile and named an initial group of application developers for its AOL Open Mobile Platform.
Announced last October, the application is
similar to Yahoo Go that lets Mobile Windows users download a wide range of AOL services including Mail, Cityguide, Search, Moviefone and MapQuest. It also remembers recent requests to help speed
searches.
AOL's Third Screen Media is providing targeted advertising for the new service.
At the CTIA Wireless 2008 show in Las Vegas on Tuesday, AOL also unveiled a new version of its
mobile search service tailored to the iPhone and its Safari browser that incorporates AJAX technology. Furthermore, BlackBerry users can now add an AOL Mobile Search icon to the device's home screen
that will launch the service when clicked on.
Expanding access to AOL Instant Messenger (AIM), AOL has made the popular service available via text-messaging on the major U.S. wireless carriers
including Alltel, AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile, U.S. Cellular and Verizon Wireless. By entering a shortcode (246246), users can log into AIM, send instant messages and view buddy lists, among other things.
Separately, AOL announced five application developers for its open mobile platform launched in February: Action Engine, Aricent, Infosys, Obopay, and ShoZu.
The AOL Open Mobile Platform is
intended to provide developers the ability to build applications that can be distributed across all major mobile platforms and operating systems including BREW, Java, Linux, RIM, Symbian, and Windows
Mobile.
The initial group of developers will create applications ranging from social media tools involving AIM to others allowing person-to-person mobile money transfers. Action Engine has
already used its on-device portal technology to build AOL MyMobile. The company will now work with other developers to embed their applications in a mobile software package.
AOL's mobile platform
is expected to become more widely available to developers this summer.