NEW ORLEANS-America Online Inc. is expected to expand on its mobile offerings this week, adding picture messaging, traffic data and premium services to its portfolio of instant messaging services.
The picture messaging application allows users to send photos from desktop AIM clients to any mobile device, and enables recipients to respond with a photo message. The Internet giant said it is working with carriers and third parties to develop a service that would allow mobile users to initiate such an exchange instead of simply responding to a photo message.
“Developing innovative messaging solutions across next-generation and legacy phones is what we are known for, so adding AOL’s new Instant Pictures feature to our IM products was a logical next step,” said Richard Wong, general manager of Openwave Systems Inc, which is providing technology for the new service.
AOL also plans to announce the addition of a traffic application powered by subsidiary MapQuest that delivers users live traffic information to wireless users in 90 U.S. cities. MapQuest is also powering a GPS-based location application that lets users share location information via text messages and access maps.
Finally, the portal will unveil premium services including You’ve Got Pictures, which allows users to access stored photo albums via their handsets, and a music service that delivers best-selling ringtones, music news, polls and artist information to mobile phones.
