About the Mobile AIM service

About the Mobile AIM Service

Mobile AIM software is the portable version of AIM that you use on your computer. With Mobile AIM you can view your Buddy List window, send and receive instant messages, set your away message and more -- all with your mobile phone or device. It's a great way to stay in touch with your friends, family and co-workers at times when you're away from your computer and do not want to call them. This service requires a text-enabled wireless device and/or service plan from your wireless carrier. Additional messaging and data rates from your wireless carrier may apply.

When you're using the AOL software or AIM on your computer, you'll notice a mobile device icon next to the Usernames of your buddies that are signed in from mobile phones. Similarly, when IM Forwarding is activated, or you're using Mobile IM, your Username appears as online on your friend's Buddy List window, and a mobile device icon is displayed next to your name to indicate that you are using a mobile phone.

Note: A mobile device icon displays only if you're using AIM version 5.9 or higher, or AOL version 7.0 or higher.

There are four easy ways to get Mobile AIM:

• Mobile AIM Software on your Phone - Most phones make the Mobile AIM service part of their main menu, so it is never hard to find. Just select IM from your phone's menu, select the AIM or AOL IM service and sign in using your AIM or AOL Username. Many of the newer phones come with the Mobile AIM service and others let you download the software directly from your mobile phone. Learn more at mobile.aol.com.
  
• IM Forwarding - If your phone is capable of text messaging, you can forward instant messages to your cell phone when you're away from your computer. Simply receive and respond to IMs using text messaging directly from your phone! Learn more and register for IM Forwarding here: http://www.aim.com/products/txt#im-forwarding.
  
• IM to Mobile - Another way to reach your buddies when they are away from their computers is to add their mobile numbers to your Buddy List. The phone numbers appear online just like other buddies on your Buddy List. When you send them IMs, the messages are transformed into text messages which they receive on their mobile phones. Learn more and manage your settings here: http://www.aim.com/products/txt#im-to-mobile.
• You can also originate IMs to desktop buddies from your phone using text messaging with AIM TXT. Learn more here: mobile.aol.com/sms-txt/AIM-TXT/.

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FAQs

Text-Based Mobile AIM Service and Short Codes
About Multiple Sign Ins to the AIM Service With Multiple Devices
About IM Forwarding From Mobile Devices
Turning IM Forwarding Off

Text-Based Mobile AIM Service and Short Codes

The Text-Based Mobile AIM service (AIM TXT) works like your text messaging service. Instead of using a mobile phone number, you receive text messages in your inbox from short codes. These short codes correspond to other AIM users. Using short codes, you can log in to the AIM service, view your mobile device group on your buddy list, and send/receive IMs as you would from your computer.

When using AIM TXT, ensure that the IM short code, you sent the message to, corresponds with the IM short code assigned to your buddy. If the IM short code is not correct, your instant message will be sent to the wrong buddy.

Short codes are special numbers -- significantly shorter than full telephone numbers. They are designed to be shorter to read out and easier to remember than a normal length telephone number. While similar to telephone numbers, they are unique to each network. However, providers generally have agreements to ensure they are allocated identically. AOL short codes generally start with 265XXX.

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About Multiple Sign Ins to the AIM Service With Multiple Devices

You can be signed in to AIM using multiple devices (computers and mobile devices) at the same time. When you sign out from a device, you are signed out from that device only. Messages are received on all devices to which you have signed in to AIM.

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About IM Forwarding From Mobile Devices

If you register for IM Forwarding, it will be activated only after you sign out of AIM from all other devices.

To force other sessions to disconnect:
1. Launch an AIM session on your computer or mobile device as you normally would. If you are signed in to other devices, you will receive an IM telling you that you are signed in to AIM with the same Username in two locations.
2. Open the IM.
3. Type 1, and then send the message.

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Turning IM Forwarding Off

Text STOPALL to 265022, and then visit http://www.aim.com/products/txt#block-txt to block all future messages from AOL. To block an individual sender only, reply BLOCK to the message.

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