AIM (AOL Instant Messenger)

Est. 1997·2017

The original instant messenger. "BRB" and away messages defined a generation's online identity.

Lived 20 years · By AOL / Oath

Lived

20y

1997 → 2017

Shutdown

December 15, 2017

Owner

AOL / Oath

Category

Communication

Domain status now

Redirects

The domain still resolves but bounces to a different page (often the parent company).

aim.com → aol.com

Evidence & sources

Official shutdown source

Original domain

https://www.aim.com

API status

Dead· killed December 15, 2017

OSCAR protocol servers shut down with the consumer service.

Data export

Never offered

No export tool was offered; saved IM logs were stored locally only.

Timeline

  1. October 6, 2017

    AOL announces AIM will be retired

  2. December 15, 2017

    Service goes offline after 20 years

More from the Communication graveyard

Memorialised as part of The Internet Graveyard. Every URL eventually becomes a 404.