How to Monetize AIM

"Monetize" is a ridiculous word,  up there with 'hydrate" (like when you drink a - presumably way overpriced - liquid) and "strategize" (like when you sit around -  at a presumably way overpriced hourly rate -  trying to figure out what to do). Those words imply that some fabulous process will get you to some glorious place. Good luck.

How can AOL monetize assets like AIM? Easy, stick ads on everything and give most of the "momo"  to Google. They'll invest part of it in whatever it takes to make your base product into a commodity. Don't like Google? Microsoft will be happy to take your money. That's it. Strategy 2.0.

How can AOL make money with assets like AIM? If I had a fully functional asynchronous (push) network with 10s of millions of authenticated users, I might want to explore the ways in which that network could deliver, meter and bill content and other services on behalf of publishers. That's one technical and business model that could make money for AOL.

The business and technical realities of an end to end asynchronous distribution network in which all endpoints can be authenticated, metered and billed by a single federated source while delivering content directly to conventional and mobile desktops should give companies like Google a bit of indigestion. The search gatekeeper is replaced by a content gatekeeper. And the model is actually a service to content publishers (not an awful reality that they just have to accept). Too bad AOL doesn't consider this as they hire investment bankers to sell off ICQ (and who knows if AIM will be next).

If anyone's left at AOL, give me a call.