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AOL`s New Desktop Application Combines Most Popular Services

In an attempt to attract back its former subscribers, AOL launches new desktop software, which will include the most popular AOL services in one user interface. The software, OpenRide, is free of charge. It is meant mostly for broadband, but can be used with dial up connections as well. It allows instant messaging, email access, online search, photos viewing and more.

The services come in separate windows, thus allowing users to do more than one activity simultaneously, for example, check email (not only AOL email, but many other email providers) while listening to music. The plans are to allow users to add other Web services in the future. According to AOL, users need an application that allows well-organized multitasking without the need to navigate between multiple windows all the time. As AOL has less and less clients lately, because of the switch to broadband, the company is trying anything to draw customers back.

Only a year ago the number of US high-speed connections customers was 78.6 million, while in May this year it is already 102.5 million, and is continuing to grow. AOL has released so far also other services, such as Internet telephony, online storage and security tools. A version of online search is planned to be released soon for high-speed users. Google, owning 5% of AOL, will power the service.