What is an AIM?
AOL Instant Messenger (AIM) is an advertisement-supported proprietary instant messaging and presence computer program which uses the OSCAR instant messaging protocol and the TOC protocol to allow registered users to communicate in real time. It was released by AOL in May of 1997. Stand-alone official AIM client software is available for Microsoft Windows, Mac OS and Mac OS X, and Linux. The software has a large share of the instant messaging market (with 52% of the total reported as of 2006), placing it ahead of the combined total user base of the two closest rivals. It is maintained by AOL LLC. The standard protocol that AIM clients use to communicate is called OSCAR. Most AOL-produced versions of AIM and popular third party AIM clients use this protocol. However, AOL also created a simpler protocol called TOC that lacks many of OSCAR’s features but is sometimes used for clients that only require basic chat functionality. The TOC/TOC2 protocol specifications were made available by AOL
The AIM slot provides a way of integrating additional capabilities and offloading the main CPU from processor-intensive functions without reducing the LAN or WAN density of the Cisco MWR 1941-DC-A (by occupying an external WIC slot or network module slot). The ATM AIM is currently available for use in the Cisco MWR 1941-DC-A.
