AOL has updated its webmail application to include a set of plugins that allow users to quickly access current news topics as well as third party services, most notably Yahoo Mail. Historically portals have been reluctant to give users access to their messages on other services, but they have been recently been opening up (which makes sense, given that they want to be a one-stop hub for all of your internet needs). Last month AOL gave users access to both their Yahoo and Gmail accounts from its homepage, and is now integrating the features into its main webmail client (Gmail hasn’t been integrated there yet, but it’s on the way).
The move is another step in AOL’s attempt to prove that it is no longer a walled garden. Unfortunately Yahoo’s API handicaps how useful the feature is, as its integration is pretty clunky – instead of pulling in your messages and displaying them in AOL’s webmail interface, each message is actually a link to the Yahoo webmail client that opens in a new browser window.
Yahoo is bucket testing similar features that would allow users to access their Gmail and AOL messages from its homepage. For more on the new release, check out AOL’s blog post here.
Other than AIM for live chat do people even still use AOL?
kcurtis
http://www.ngagelive.com
Don’t forget AIM is integrated into Gmail now. One less reason to use AOL.
where is hotmail?
It’s all about choice people. Some like one product over another for various reasons. And yes, lot’s of people do use AOL products (even those which don’t say AOL anywhere). Educate yourself.
I think it’s terrible
Over 250 million people per month (including subscribers) use AOL properties. If you choose to shop in a boutique or drive a Saab then suit yourself, the rest of the world that shops at Costco or Walmart and drives Fords and Hondas will visit AOL content. Ya know, sometimes being a geek isn’t cool anymore…
I don’t understand why anyone would want to manage two different webmail accounts. I point all my email to my Yahoo account and let it manage everything. AOL mail is underrated though, it’s a pretty good service.
Why does anybody need to buy AOL? They are slowly becoming every other company.
I think this is great. Now, I can check both my aol and yahoo mail in one place. AOL mail is a good service and I agree with Matt that AOL mail is way underrated.
My forever
i think it’s very good please know world . people are hard work but we are eating problem every day . in Nepal are our problem . we are not shulution . It’s not good manage. I don’t unders land why anyone would to manage two different wemail accounts . point all my email to my yahoo. account and let it manage every thing . thank you bye,
I used to use Yahoo for 10 years as my personal email, but all the spam they let through was killing me. I switched over to using AOL and have to say – they have the best spam filtering which is the most important thing to me.
Amen to that… they certainly do have the best spam filter.
hi how are you.
hi sudhakar how are you