Apple Previews iChat Instant Messaging for Mac OS X
America Online & Apple Collaborate on First Seamless & Fully Compatible
Instant Messaging on AOL’s Instant Messaging Network

WWDC 2002, San Jose, California-May 6, 2002-Apple=AE today previewed iChat,
an Apple developed AIM-compatible instant messaging client that will be
included with the next major release of Mac=AE OS X, code-named “Jaguar,”
available to customers late this summer. AIM is one of the most popular
instant messaging communities with more than 150 million registered users.
iChat will be built into “Jaguar” and features an elegant Aqua interface,
allowing seamless instant messaging between Mac.com members, AOL members
and AOL=AE Instant Messenger=81 (AIM) users. Mac users can use their existin=
g
Mac.com names with iChat or get a free Mac.com name in seconds if they
don’t already have one.

“We’re very excited about bringing Mac users into the broader AOL community
with the first fully compatible integration of another user base with AIM
and AOL Buddy List users,” said Bob Pittman, Chief Operating Officer-elect
of AOL Time Warner. “This will make it possible for Mac users to
communicate within our network using their existing Mac.com identities. We
look forward to working together with Apple on other innovative offerings.”

“iChat lets Mac OS X users join the best instant messaging community in the
world,” said Steve Jobs, Apple’s CEO. “Together with AOL, we’re making it
possible for iChat users to exchange instant messages with over 150 million
people, all using their Mac.com names.”

AIM, AOL Buddy List and Mac.com users can use their existing screen name or
“handle.” The Mac OS X version of iChat allows users to quickly see and
change their online status and communicate with buddies from the menu bar.
The Mail application in Mac OS X shows online status of buddies, allowing
users to instantly turn email exchanges into real time chats. And, the new
system-wide Address Book manages buddy information including name, handle
and photo along with the rest of their contact information.

iChat’s innovative use of Aqua delivers a great new user experience for
instant messaging. iChat uses “dialogue bubbles” and buddy photos to
present instant messages in a graphically conversational manner. iChat
invitations pop on the screen in a simple and non-intrusive way using
transparency and animation effects. iChat users can also automatically
discover and chat with other iChat users on their local Ethernet or
AirPort=AE networks.

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Apple ignited the personal computer revolution in the 1970s with the Apple
II and reinvented the personal computer in the 1980s with the Macintosh.
Apple is committed to bringing the best personal computing experience to
students, educators, creative professionals and consumers around the world
through its innovative hardware, software and Internet offerings.