It’s a sad day for the co-evolutionary tech world. Despite still having millions of users, AIM (AOL’s instant messenger) is closing the doors on December 15th 2017. This will mark 20 years from its start! I can only guess Skype is just too strong to compete with, although I can easily see a better chat and calling system coming out soon. Skype still lacks a lot of features people want and looks a little childish. Not that looking childish is necessarily a bad thing, but most people want a chat that is clean and simple. As all design things on the Internet nowadays, simple is the new fancy.
Also, with VR creeping up to the main stream, we will definitely need a chat program with VR capability.
I personally would love to see a chat program with multiple profiles that will ring through at one time. Of course, telling which chat the program alert is on. For me, I use Skype here at Web Host Pro for business a lot, so I can’t run my personal profile at the same time. Also, if you’re thinking about developing the next big chat thing and want to go BIG! Make a chat program that also handles calls like Skype but with a smart PBX system and FAX! Anyway, I’m sure whoever does this, will be the next Skype. Unfortunately I don’t have an extra 2 million to develop it lol. Interestingly enough, AOL as a company is still going strong with its dial up service. Bringing in a hefty profit each month. They also are expanding their media division, hoping it will soon be their main cash cow.
Either way, I think I speak for the entire Internet when I say thanks for making the first chat program, allowing us to meet random people all over the world and of course testing our ability to tell if they are a robot or not.