Just got an interesting e-mail from AOL.

Leigh · October 06, 2017, 09:30:26 AM

It goes as such:

"Dear AIM user,

We've made the decision that AOL Instant Messenger (AIM) will be discontinued and will no longer work as of December 15, 2017. This also means that AIM will no longer be available in the AOL Desktop software, and any sign ins to AIM software and apps will be blocked.

Before December 15, you can continue to use the service. As of December 15, you will no longer have access to AIM and your data will be deleted. If you use an @aim.com email address, your email account will not be affected and you will still be able to send and receive email as usual.

We've loved working on AIM for you. From setting the perfect away message to that familiar ring of an incoming chat, AIM will always have a special place in our hearts. As we move forward, all of us at AOL (now Oath) are excited to continue building the next generation of iconic brands and life-changing products for users around the world.

You can visit our FAQ to learn more. Thank you for being an AIM user.

Sincerely,
The AOL Instant Messenger team."

So, yeah. Now what? I mean, I have Skype and Facebook Messenger (my MSNM and Y!IM stopped working years ago), but what about all the folks who DON'T wanna switch to another messenger?

Suzee · October 06, 2017, 11:32:03 AM

Well ya know, it's just one of those things. Software and useage changes. I'm betting that AIM is no longer profitable for them.

Of course it also means that I will have to figure out how to change our website...

Avery · October 06, 2017, 12:33:20 PM

I would definitely like to see the site updated so we can remove the no-longer-available messenger options (AIM, Yahoo, MSN) and substitute in messengers that currently run. I'm thinking Skype and GoogleTalk, dunno if there's another one very popular. But I also know it's difficult on the webbies.

Heather · October 08, 2017, 06:36:16 PM

I have noticed lots of fandom people use discord now. It's specifically for gamers, and we could even set up a "Triad" channel, so whenever people are on they could have the option to chat.

Just a thought

Leigh · October 08, 2017, 09:42:32 PM

What's Discord like? Is it easy to use?

emma · October 08, 2017, 11:26:20 PM

I did wonder about slack as an option ;)

Avery · October 09, 2017, 09:26:58 AM

Both Discord and Slack work on a group server method. You create a server, and then configure channels with different topics. By default, channels are open to everyone who is a part of the server to post in, and plus you have the ability to read history of what was said when you were gone. It's kind of like forming an AIM or GoogleTalk group chat. You can also chat privately with someone, like you do now on AIM.

Discord is an application that started for video gamers as a replacement for Skype or Ventrilo/TeamSpeak/Mumble. The server can have both voice and text channels. In Discord, you can also add other members of the server to your buddy list for PMing them.
Slack is designed for businesses to collaborate in groups. It drops the voice and video features of Discord. But it allows for working on documents together. There's also easy PMing of anyone else on the server without needing to friend them.

I really like both because they let you hang out and chat, and see what other people have said. If you're interested in group chatting, they're great. But if you just want to PM someone one on one, they're also useful tools.

Both Discord and Slack have web applications as well as downloadable versions for smartphones. I use both Discord and Slack for planning the convention I run, and I could try to get some nice screenshots with sensitive stuff blurred out, if folks want to see what they work like.

Suzee · October 09, 2017, 10:27:45 AM

I haven't used AIM in quite some time. Because most of my friends were on other services. I'd shifted to GTalk a long time ago.

Dischord it easy to use, I have it for other groups of people I play games with. It isn't just text chat though that is a part of it. It is also voice chat. So it can also replace skype and host multiple users at a time in a group. Best of all its free. Unlike Team Speak and Ventrillo. With Dischord you do not have to log into the voice portion unless you wish to. But it is a group tool like the Cbox on this site.