AOL Launches AIM Widget for Blogs and Websites

Posted on June 30, 2007

AOL has launched a new widget that will allow bloggers and website owners to interact with their users.

Dulles-based AOL has also launched a new widget that allows bloggers, Web site owners and consumers with social networking profiles to easily and anonymously instant message with site visitors. The widget is directly integrated with the owner's instant-messaging buddy list feature, letting site, blog and social networking profile visitors initiate an instant-messaging conversation when the owner is signed on to AOL's instant-messaging service.
A widget owner's online presence status is indicated with a highlighted icon and screen names, and identities are protected through customized owner and visitor aliases.

AOL's new widget is called WIMZI. Bloggers can embed the widget and easily interact with site visitors. 901am writes that the widget protect screen names and identities: "widget owner's online presence status is indicated with a highlighted icon and screen names and identities are protected through customized owner and visitor aliases." This widget will be useful to bloggers who want to converse with their visitors. It will probably also be useful to online store owners who want to offer assistance to online shoppers.