Turn on, "Plug-in", Stay Tuned

More one-click access to content and features than ever.... including Yahoo!® Mail

Written by Roy Ben-Yoseph, VP, AOL Mail

The AOL® Mail team is pleased to announce today the launch of an updated version of our popular Webmail service, including a new look-and-feel; one-click access to relevant third-party content providers; and a Yahoo! Mail plug-in that will extend email aggregation within the AOL Inbox.



Designed to match the new AOL.com experience launched last month, this updated version of AOL Mail will offer users more choice, convenience and customization. For starters, a new third-party mail plug-in will allow users to access Yahoo! email services through mail.aol.com. Offering the same functionality the Yahoo! supertab offers through AOL.com, the Yahoo! plug-in on AOL Mail allows users to preview Yahoo! Mail within the AOL Mail experience, as well as take advantage of one-click access to their Yahoo! Mail accounts.

In addition, a series of new plug-ins added to the right-hand side of the screen are designed to deliver even more relevant and timely content, as well as provide immediate access to favorite sites across the Web, including AOL Finance, Mapquest, AOL Radio, TMZ and through November 4th, AOL Elections. Post-election season, this button will continue to deliver timely content on holiday shopping and other popular topics.

Over the next few weeks, expect to see more third-party content on mail.aol.com, as we continue to open up our service to offer one-click access to other popular sites, email providers and content. Our goal has always been to deliver the best of the Web by opening up our service, we can now offer users a one-stop destination for mail, messaging and content.

You’ve Got Drafts!

Written by Rose Kwok, Product Manager, AOL Mail

You asked for it. We heard it.

The WebSuite team has been working diligently to implement web-based drafts for our AOL users. You will now be able to start composing your message and save as a draft to be sent out in the future. You can also access these drafts on the go whenever WebSuite is available. Just follow these simple steps below to use drafts.

1. Click on Compose as you would normally to begin writing a message. You will now see a new “Save Draft” button. When you are ready to save, click on the button.

2. You will see that the Drafts folder now indicates that there is 1 draft saved in the folder. When you are ready to complete your message, click on the draft message to open and continue composing.

3. Your draft message will open, with the message you have previously composed. Make changes as you’d like. When you are ready, just click Send as you normally do.

Saving drafts is now as easy as counting 1, 2, 3. We’d love to hear your feedback on this new feature.

As always, enjoy and thanks for using AOL!

Rose

Got an iPhone

Written by Mac Atre, Principal Software Engineer, AOL Mail

If you do, check out the new made-for-iPhone AOL mail at http://m.webmail.aol.com.



Given the immense popularity of iPhone, we decided to build a webmail experience optimized for this device.

AOL Mail for iPhone is a full-featured, iPhone-optimized mail experience that’s blazing fast. Now you can get to your mail quickly, search for messages, and access your address book. The address book works with your iPhone’s native phone and maps applications.

So no more panning and zooming large, unwieldy pages. All the familiar iPhone application model features are there: painless navigation, portrait and landscape modes, and keyboard support.

Remember, you can put AOL Mail on your Home screen. Open it on your iPhone (or iPod touch), tap the plus sign, and then tap "Add to Home screen."

You may also want to check out the new AOL portal—simply go to http://www.aol.com on your iPhone.

The Wisdom of the Mail Community

Written by Tom Lynch, Business Manager, AOL Mail

In an effort to provide our users with more robust product support options, we are pleased to announce the recent launch of the Mail Community Help Center (CHC). Powered by Yedda's platform, the CHC allows users to pose questions directly to the AOL Mail community in an open forum. Once a question is posted, any AOL user can log in and provide an answer. Answers are then rated thumbs up or down by users. The best rated answers will be listed at the top.

Designed with users in mind, the site contains three easy to navigate pages, each dedicated to a different topic. The page topics are as follows:

- FAQs

- How to Get the Most Out of Mail

- Options for User Support and Assistance




Included on each page is a set of featured questions and answers which look to address the most common questions being asked. The pages can be accessed from the links listed here under the Favorite Sites section or through the Email section on AOL's online Help site.

So take some time to explore and enjoy the site. And while there, go ahead and answer a question or two if you're so inclined.

The Only Place You Can Send a 5GB Attachment!

Written by Rose Kwok, Product Manager, AOL Mail

Many of you may have read the article in USA Today (found here: http://www.usatoday.com/tech/products/2008-04-15-google-gmail-webmail_N.htm) on AOL Mail’s feature that allows sending of large attachments via email. Here are some more details on how you too can use Xdrive to send up to 5GB of attachments.

How can you start using Xdrive to send large attachments?

First, Xdrive is only available in Beta for now, so access your AOL Mail account at http://beta.webmail.aol.com.

Start composing email as you normally would by clicking on “Compose.” After you click on “Attach file” browse and select your attachment. You will notice an updated dialog box:






If you would like to upload via Xdrive, simply select the check box towards the bottom of the dialog. For files over 16MB, your attachments will automatically get uploaded via Xdrive. If you don’t already have an Xdrive account, you will see a brief confirmation dialog. Be sure to click “I Agree” to create a new account. When you are done, click Send and your attachments will be sent along with your email.

When your recipients receive the email, they will see the attachment(s) as a link. All they need to do is click on the link to retrieve the attachment(s) via Xdrive.

What is Xdrive?

Xdrive is a 5GB personal hard drive on the Internet. You can get easy backup and secure storage, just like an external hard drive, but without the worry of losing or damaging a piece of hardware. You can simply upload files to Xdrive and securely access your files anywhere over the web. You can even share your files with your friends and family by allowing them permission. All this, for free.

Enjoy,

Rose

Tired of Repeatedly Logging In?

Written by Tom Lynch, Business Manager, AOL Mail

To provide a more streamlined and convenient webmail experience, we are pleased to bring you a new user option that will allow you to stay permanently logged in.

This new user option is offered just beneath the Password field in the Sign In box. Simply check the box next to "Stay signed in until I sign out." and you're done.




Once checked, you can immediately access your Inbox without having to log in every time you come to an AOL property.

However, please be aware of a couple things. First, once selected this will override your Auto Sign Off setting. Second, be careful on enabling on a shared computer. Enabling this feature on a shared computer would allow anyone using this same computer to access your email account.

To learn more about how this new feature works, simply click here.

See What's New in WebSuite "Goa"

Written by Rose Kwok, Product Manager, AOL Mail

We know how much you rely on WebSuite for Mail, Calendar and Address Book. That's why we want to keep making it better for you. After months of hard work, the WebSuite team is excited to launch another release of Websuite Standard and WebSuite Basic, codenamed “Goa.” (Did you know Goa is a coastal, tropical island and the smallest state in India?)

Here’s a preview of the new things you will find in your Inbox:

Safer Mail

For your protection, WebSuite has been blocking images from unknown senders. We have now added link blocking as well. No more worrying about clicking a link that could take you to inappropriate content or a phishing site.

Performance

We know you want things fast, and making WebSuite faster was the focus for "Goa" – from loading WebSuite to reading and sending messages. For the techies among you, we've upgraded the entire Standard application to the 1.0 version of the Dojo toolkit for snappier performance! You also may have noticed that the “Unsend” and “Status” features were removed from this WebSuite release. Because of the way these features were implemented, they were preventing us from achieving the best product performance. So, we made the difficult decision to remove them from WebSuite. If you are a hardcore “Status” user, or have an “Unsend” emergency, you can still find these features in our integrated clients (AOL 9.1 and AOL Desktop).

MapQuest

Love MapQuest? We do too. That’s why we’ve put WebSuite and Mapquest together. Need directions to your next party? When you add a location to a new event in Calendar, we will parse your address and show you where it is on a map from Mapquest. Voila!
(Feature currently not available in Basic version)

AIM Integration

The IM windows you minimize within WebSuite will now flash when you have new incoming IMs so you will never miss a message again. We also added a new IM button to your read and compose mail views that alerts you when your friends are online. When you start writing a new message, WebSuite will check whether your buddies are online and the button will light up if they are, allowing you to IM with them in real time.
(AIM currently not available in Basic version)

Calendar

You asked for it, we’ve got it! For those of you who love and use our Basic version, you will be glad to hear that we added AOL Calendar to the fast product many have come to love. Just as in the Standard version, you will be able to view your personal calendar in month, week or day view. Make it even more fun by sharing it with your friends and family. Best of all, AOL Basic Calendar is fully accessible.

For those of you using the Standard version, we’ve got something for you too. AOL Calendar now supports importing calendars from any iCal (.ics) URL and similarly exporting any public calendars as iCal files.

AOL Journals

Do you use AOL Journals? If so, WebSuite now provides 1-click access straight to your Journals page. Start sharing your stories with the world!
(Panels not available in Basic version)

And more…

Safari 3 users will now be able to use the Rich Text Editor to make all their emails colorful and pretty. More features (including Drafts for AOL accounts and a “Keep Me Signed In” option) will be coming in the next few weeks, so please stay tuned.

Hope you love “Goa” as much as we do. Enjoy and let us know what you think.

Rose

A Little Luck Goes a Long Way

Written by Tom Lynch, Business Manager, AOL Mail


When is an email address more than an email address? When your email address works for you by expressing who you are and passing along your sentiments to family, friends and social contacts.

Use an email address that means something. Sign up for a LuckyMail email account and let your email spread good fortune and cheer.


With LuckyMail you’ll not only get all the benefits and features of AOL mail, but also a wide open name space that will help you get a name you want. Best of all…. it’s FREE.




Try it out today!

Curious what else is available? Click here to find the email address right for you. Get the email address you want on both sides of the “@”!

Tom

AOL Raises the Stakes in Vegas

Written by Tom Lynch, Business Manager, AOL Mail

Yesterday as part of the keynote speech during Microsoft's MIX08 conference, we showcased a next generation in webmail built on Microsoft's Silverlight 2.0 technology. The new product will offer industry-leading performance, unique skinning options, and the ability to deliver rich media content. The new product is still in development, and is being designed to give users the convenience of a browser-based email service with desktop-like performance and functionality.

Here is an example of the skinning capability that the new product will offer. To learn more about the product and see a brief demo, check out an interview with two members of the Mail Team.




To sign up to receive a notification as to when a product preview is available, please go to ria.mail.aol.com.

Tom

AOL Webmail, now enhanced by Xdrive!

Written by guest blogger Rose Kwok, Product Manager, AOL Mail

By now, you have probably already sent emails with attachments using AOL Up ‘til now AOL has supported a total email and attachment size of up to 16MB. But what if you want to send your mom all your pictures from your recent trip to Europe? They add up to about 1GB of storage space!


No worries, you can now send large attachments (of up to 5GB) along with your email, thanks to the new AOL Webmail & Xdrive integration.

What is Xdrive?

Xdrive is a 5GB personal hard drive on the Internet. You can get easy backup and secure storage, just like an external hard drive, but without the worry of losing or damaging a piece of hardware. You can simply upload files to Xdrive and securely access your files anywhere over the web. You can even share your files with your friends and family by allowing them permission. All this, for free.

How can you start using Xdrive to send large attachments?

First, if you don’t already have one, create a free Xdrive account. Sign up for one here:

http://www.xdrive.com/

When you are back in Webmail, compose email as you normally would. After you click on “Attach file” browse and select your attachment. You will notice an updated dialog box:




If you would like to upload via Xdrive, simply click on the check box towards the bottom of the dialog. For files over 16MB, your attachments will automatically get uploaded via Xdrive.

The best part is that your attachments will also be backed up and stored securely in your Xdrive account. Never lose an attachment again!

When your recipients receive the email, they will see the attachment, which can then be retrieved via Xdrive.

Get started now!

Want to be the first to try out this new feature? It’s only available in Beta. Check it out at:

http://beta.webmail.aol.com

Enjoy and happy holidays!

Rose

AOL Mail's New Unified Inbox

AOL users now have the option to switch to the new Unified Inbox, stay put, or switch back.

Benefits of the improved Inbox option include:
1. E-mail messages remain in your Inbox and Sent folder until you delete them
2. Unlimited storage lets you keep as many e-mail messages as you want
3. See all of your e-mail messages in one place, instead of separate New Mail and Old Mail folders

If you are an AOL Webmail user, you will receive the following pop-up the next time you log in to AOL Webmail:




If you are using the AOL 9.1 software, use AOL Keywords to switch to the new Inbox:

Switch to Unified Inbox: AOL Keyword: Inbox

Switch back to New & Old folders: AOL Keyword: mailbox switch

If you are using Webmail or IMAP/POP3, use the following links:

Switch to Unified Inbox: http://inbox.aol.com/mail/changeMailboxStyle?style=self

Switch back to New & Old folders: http://inbox.aol.com/mail/changeMailboxStyle?style=auto

NOTE: You must be signed in to AOL with your screen name and password in order to access the links above.

More information on the Unified Inbox is available here:

How do I switch to the unified Inbox Mail?

Thanksgiving Gift from AOL Mail

Written by guest blogger Rose Kwok, Product Manager, AOL Mail

Hi loyal Mail Blog readers,

Hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving! To thank YOU for choosing AOL, the WebSuite team has been working hard these past few months to bring you another exciting release, what we have been referring to as Fiji. Here are some of the great new features you will find in your mail box.

Filters – aka Rules; set up Filters and have your mail delivered straight to your mail folders based on your filter criteria

Reading Pane – quickly read your mail in a Reading Pane with your message list still visible

AIM Integration improvements - save your IM conversations into your WebSuite folders so you can access and continue them whenever you want

SMS integration - send SMS to any mobile phone or any buddy on your buddy list (US only)

More & more Content - myAOL RSS Panel, Just for Fun Panels, AOL Radio Panel, AOL Mail Blog Panel, etc.

So, go ahead…set up filters to manage incoming e-mails and get through your Inbox more quickly with the Reading Pane. IM and SMS your friends on the go. Best of all, you can read this very blog within WebSuite by selecting the AOL Mail Blog Panel!

Enjoy. And as always, we’d love to hear your feedback.

Rose

AOL 9.1 is ready for download and here’s why you should upgrade

Written by guest blogger Seth Halvaksz, Sr. Product Manager, AOL Mail

Everyone knows AOL for desktop software that combines e-mail, IM, web browsing (and more) into a single, safe, easy-to-use application with security features such as anti-virus, anti-spam and parental controls. Although you may think you need to be an AOL dial-up subscriber to use our software, that’s not the case! Now anyone with an AOL mail account can use the AOL 9.1 all-in-one desktop software over a broadband (DSL or cable) or a third-party dial-up connection.

Here are some of the enhancements you’ll see in AOL 9.1:

Easier surfing - ability to browse the Web without signing on to AOL when you have a broadband or third-party dial-up connection

Unified Inbox - unlimited storage with an Inbox that keeps your mail as long as you need it

Flexibility with reply - select only the text you want when replying to a message, or don’t select any text if you want to display the entire message in your e-mail reply

RSS feeds - add RSS feeds to your Favorites

Instant news - quick access to the latest news by clicking or hovering over a News icon in the Toolbar

New with AOL 9.1 is a unified Inbox with unlimited mail storage. If you’re a current AOL user, you can switch to an Inbox view of your messages at any time, and with unlimited storage you can keep as many e-mail messages as you want!

You will also see improvements to AOL’s award-winning spam detection. If we suspect the person sending the e-mail is not genuine, AOL will block the e-mail until you tell us you want to see it.

Want to learn more about AOL 9.1 and download the software? Here’s where to go:

http://daol.aol.com/software/91

Enjoy and thanks for choosing AOL!

Seth

Tip: Want to skip the login screen?

The previous blog topic in this slot was too confusing so it’s being replaced with the following one about an upcoming and related feature. I didn’t want to lose the ongoing discussions under this entry, hence why it’s being replace rather than removed entirely (blog software deletes all comments if an entry is removed).

Want an even easier way to avoid entering in your password every time you want to read you emails?

Note: This goes without saying, but just a reminder…. Remember to click the Sign Out link after using a public/shared computer. I’m offering this tip for use on your own personal computer that only you use (preferably that’s already protected by a password).

Don’t want to enter in your screen name and password each time you want to read your emails on your computer?

There’s an upcoming new feature that we’re internally calling “keep me signed in.” It does what it sounds like. If you choose to turn on that feature, it’ll keep you signed into your account until you manually click the Sign Out link. This will be a very handy feature because you can skip a few steps in the login process. With this feature, you’ll be able to go straight to http://mail.aol.com (use a book mark for single-click access)and you won't be prompted for a password. You decide whether this is desired for your situation--for some people (like me), speed and convenienceis king since mail security isn't a worry for me on my personal computer.

Whenever you’re done with reading your emails, don’t click the Sign Out link because if you do, then you’ll have to enter in your password again the next time. Instead, just exit or close the browser normally. Note: Clicking the Sign Out link or deleting the browser cookies will require you to enter in your screen name and password again the next time--handy for when you're on a public computer.

This feature will be coming out next month along with even more features that many of you have been asking for. So stay tuned for more details. Enjoy and thanks for choosing AOL!

Tae

"The AOL Mail Blog Guy"
http://mailblog.aol.com
Keyword: mail blog

Accessible version of the Web Suite impresses

AOL tries hard to offer mail products that can be beneficial to the majority of the online users and one of the groups that is not forgotten is our visually impaired group. The Basic version of the Web Suite (aka Accessible Version) helps visually impaired users by being screen reader friendly with a robust set of keyboard shortcuts. A few months ago, I blogged about some of the most common shortcuts (email me if you’d like the full list—too long to post here).

Anyways, even more accessibility improvements are slated for inclusion next month but I wanted to share with you what one major organization had to say about the new Accessible Version of the Web Suite. Curtis Chong is the President of the National Federation of the Blind in Computer Science and is a recognized expert on accessible technology. Here’s what he wrote to AOL:

“I must say that I am quite impressed with the work that has clearly been done to create the accessible Web-based AOL mail interface. After I played around with it a bit, I found that the keyboard shortcuts do work if you give them a chance to do so .

I admit that I have spent perhaps two hours working on this, but so far, I can find very little to criticize and much to be glad about. My instincts tell me that a lot of thought and work went into the design of the accessible interface. The design clearly demonstrates a strong understanding of how screen-access programs for the blind work, knowledge of the shortcuts they use to facilitate efficient navigation of Web pages, and a practical understanding of what blind people need and want in an e-mail system. I'm hard to impress, but I will tell you that this has impressed me.

Cordially,
Curtis Chong”

We hope our visually impaired friends are enjoying the new Basic Version of the Web Suite.

Thank you all for choosing AOL.

Tae Kang
“The AOL Mail Blog Guy”
http://mailblog.aol.com
Keyword: mail blog

Going Mobile

How many times have you wanted to check your emails while you’re out-and-about? (away from your home or office) While you’re in the car (with someone else driving of course), while you’re waiting idle some place, while you’re at the airport, etc.

Well, now you can on the all new Mobile Mail, if you have a cell phone that’s capable of surfing the Internet. We've made checking your AOL, AIM, and My eAddress Mail on your cell phone much easier. Check out the new and improved Mobile Mail.

Give it a try and remember to tell us what you think via the Beta Feedback link at the bottom of the Mobile Mail screen.

Note: Your cell phone account must have a data plan and your carrier may charge you extra for surfing on the Internet. Flat-rate data plans are common with most carriers.

There’s no real need to, but you could also access Mobile Mail using any standard computer browser. Sure the type size will be small, since it’s designed for a phone screen, but there are some advantages too. I can’t tell you what they are, but you can see for yourself. Don’t tell anyone I told you here. :-)

Enoy and thanks for choosing AOL.

Tae Kang
“The AOL Mail Blog Guy”
http://mailblog.aol.com
Keyword: mail blog

Tags: Mobile Mail, beta

New AOL software lets you access all your other accounts on one screen!

Written by guest blogger Laura Peterson, Sr. Product Manager, AOL Desktop Software

Hi everyone,

Hope you’ve been checking out the mail experience in the beta of Helix (update: now called AOL Desktop), our latest all-in-one desktop software. I’m here to check in and tell you about a couple of cool features in Helix mail, such as the ability to add and access multiple mail accounts.

Helix lets you read mail from numerous non-AOL mail accounts, like Yahoo Mail, Gmail, Hotmail, etc., all at the same time. In addition to supporting mail addresses from the AOL network (domains like AOL, AIM, eAddress and Affinity mail), Helix also lets you check and write mail from other POP3 accounts like GMail and Verizon. The Helix team implemented this in a really elegant way by using tabs. Tabs are one of the new innovations you’ll see in the mail experience and something we’ve done throughout Helix to improve windows management.

The first screenshot below shows the mailbox (in the background) with multiple mail accounts enabled: an AOL e-mail address tab and a Gmail tab. After you add multiple accounts, you will be able to easily tab between your inboxes from the top of the AOL Desktop mailbox.

To add an e-mail account, click the “add e-mail account” button near the top middle of the form. You’ll be taken to the mail account part of mail settings where you can add and edit accounts.




This next screenshot shows where you enter your additional account information. (The port numbers are just placeholder, by the way.) Make sure you have the password for your additional mail account ready. AOL Desktop will enter as much information as it can on its own, but it’s also helpful to have the server address, port numbers and security types ready just in case Helix doesn’t auto-populate these fields. You should be able to access this information, as well as enable any other POP-related functionality, from your additional mail account settings.



After you’ve added an account, the tabs will let you toggle between your mail account inboxes.

Here are a couple things to remember about multiple accounts in AOL Desktop:

* The number of unread mail will be displayed as a number in each inbox account tab. However, only your main AOL-domain (including AIM, eAddress etc.) mail count and mail list will appear in the Helix toolbar and toolbar hover state.

* When you compose a mail, you now have a choice of what account you can send it from. Just select the preferred account from the dropdown list. (However, your main AOL address will always be the default.)

* You only have one set of folders for Helix mail. Regardless of what account tab you’re in or how many accounts you add, the folders where you save your mail will not change. Similarly, you will still have one central Address Book store.

Well, have fun checking out multiple accounts in Helix mail!

Be sure to try out the Beta so you can also explore other new features like tabbed mail, built-in MapQuest, AIM, and App Map, which lets you view all your open windows as clickable thumbnails.

Download the Helix Beta here: http://beta.aol.com/projects.php?project=helix

Cheers,
Laura Peterson


Tags: Helix, new aol software, multiple accounts, AOL Desktop

Which version of web mail should I use?

Hi,

Some of you have emailed me asking which version of the two new Web Suites you should use, so I thought I'd shed some light on that subject here for everyone to read.

Since late August, a new Basic version of the Web Suite was added to the product line, which is mainly intended for users who are on older computers or slower internet connections. The Basic is a "lite" version, meaning that it's smaller, faster, and more streamlined for doing just the basics of email. See how we got that name? :-) What that means though is that there are some features intentionally left out, in order to focus on speed. As this new Basic version grows, we'll be adding more convenience features.

If features is more important to you than speed (yes we're working on making it so that you can "have your cake and eat it too"), then the Standard version is for you. As long as you have a modern computer with a fast internet connection.

Below is a table that summarizes the recommended Web Suite, for different situations.



Direct access methods to your mail account:

Web Suite Standard - http://mail.aol.com

Web Suite Basic - http://basic.mail.aol.com

Notes:

When logging in, the actual connection speed is checked. If the speed isn't fast enough, you will see an option to use Basic if you haven't been logged in within 30-seconds. But you'll still be taken to the Standard version if you simply wait. If the Basic version is desired after you've logged in, the "Basic Version" link at the bottom of the screen can be clicked.

(1) Users with modern computers with compatible browsers and fast connection speeds can also use the Basic version too. Click the Basic Version link at the bottom of the screen when logged in. Bookmark the above links for faster access.

(2) Users can also use the Standard version if features are more important than speed. Click the Standard Version link at the bottom of the screen when logged in (compatible OS and browser are required otherwise link will not be displayed).


PS: I know there have been some reports of the Basic version being slower for some of you than the Standard version. If you're experiencing this consistently, please email me details about your system so that we can help you with that probably-resolvable issue.

Enjoy and thanks for choosing AOL,

Tae Kang

"The AOL Mail Blog Guy"
http://mailblog.aol.com
Keyword: Mail Blog

Introducing AOL Mail Gadget for iGoogle

Written by guest blogger Rohit Kinra, Sr. Product Manager, AOL Mail

We’ve been hard at work for the past couple of months on developing web-based gadgets for all AOL mail users (AOL, AIM, or My eAddress). A gadget is a "light-weight single-purpose program" on a web site, designed to perform a specific function.

We're now releasing another web-based gadget for all of you who use iGoogle for your homepage (yes, we do play nicely with our competitors :-) ). And we are busy working on more gadgets for more of your favorite websites, so keep checking back with us.
All the gadgets will show you new mail in your AOL, AIM, or My eAddress mailboxes. So, now you can find out about the new mail in your mailbox even while your surfing on Google (and other sites in the future). The gadgets allow you to:

• See new mail with their subject lines, whom they are from, and when you got them.
• See the number of new mail messages in your mailbox.
• Compose a new mail message… We will link you right into our Web Suite and you can begin writing your new mail.
• Set how many new mail messages you want to see (5, 10, or 15).
• Set the background color when displaying your new mail.



Our first version is US English only, but we are working hard to make a global version with the following languages:

French (France)
German (Germany)
English (US)
English (United Kingdom)
English (Canada)
English (India)
Spanish (US)
Spanish (Spain)
Italian (Italy)
Swedish (Sweden)
Chinese (China)
Dutch (Netherlands)

If you want to try the AOL mail gadget for Google, you can load it into your iGoogle page. Click here to try it now.

Thanks and we hope you enjoy the new gadgets. Please let us know what you think of them.

Enjoy,
Rohit Kinra

Sending text messages from the Web Suite (and AOL 9.0VR too)

You may have heard that Yahoo is offering a new service starting today that lets you send an SMS or text message from email. Well, that’s another feature that AOL has had for years now. Simply open the Web Suite's AIM Panel or AOL 9.0VR (works with the AIM installed program too), click the IM button, and type “+1 and the 10-digit cell phone number” into the To: Screen Name box. Your IM will be received on their cell phone, usually within seconds, and they can reply back via IM too. It's kind of fun, so give it a try! Note: recipient's phone must have the feature to receive text messages and some cell phone companies charge for text messages.

So that you don't have to type in all the digits the next time, it’s real easy to add that number to your buddy list. I’ve had my wife’s cell number in my buddy list for those last minute “pick up more milk please” text messages. :-)

Enjoy the new AIM Panel in the Web Suite and thanks for choosing AOL.

‘Til next time,

Tae Kang
“The AOL Mail Blog Guy”
http://mailblog.aol.com
Keyword: mail blog