---
title: "TechCrunch: AOL Instant Messenger is Shutting Down After 20 Years"
url: https://burnaze.com/article/0158ef59-1360-4200-a40b-f3142d00ddd1
source: "1851 Franchise"
original_url: https://1851franchise.com/techcrunch-aol-instant-messenger-is-shutting-down-after-20-years-2704538
category: "Technology"
topics: ["Technology"]
published: 2017-10-06T19:14:29.000Z
modified: 2026-11-01T04:10:52.294Z
image: https://newimage.1851franchise.com/cdn-cgi/image/quality=85,format=webp,width=1280,height=720/story/featureImage/779495cc243e7645f24b2ff1bc798aee7663.jpg
---

# TechCrunch: AOL Instant Messenger is Shutting Down After 20 Years

**TL;DR:** AOL Instant Messenger will shut down on December 15th after 20 years. AOL is shifting its focus to building the next generation of iconic brands and life-changing products.

*originally published in 1851 Franchise on 2017-10-06. [Read the original](https://1851franchise.com/techcrunch-aol-instant-messenger-is-shutting-down-after-20-years-2704538).*

## Story

The original online chat app will soon be shutting down. According to a recent TechCrunch article, AOL Instant Messenger will shut down on December 15th after running since 1997. With SMS and social apps like Whatsapp and Facebook, AOL is no longer dominating and will be giving up the fight.

“We know there are so many loyal fans who have used AIM for decades; and we loved working and building the first chat app of its kind since 1997” wrote AOL on the AIM help page. “Our focus will always be on providing the kind of innovative experiences consumers want. We’re more excited than ever to focus on building the next generation of iconic brands and life-changing products.”

AIM’s away messages were similar to modern-day tweets and status updates. With so much competition in the market, AOL fell from being valued at $224 billion to just $4 .4 billion when it was sold to Verizon in 2015. That same year, Whatsapp was sold to Facebook for $19 billion.

## Entities

- 1851 Franchise (publication)
- General (sector)
- Facebook (company)
- acquisition (topic)
- Verizon (company)
- tech industry (topic)
- brand valuation (topic)
- instant messaging (topic)

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Originally reported by 1851 Franchise (https://1851franchise.com/techcrunch-aol-instant-messenger-is-shutting-down-after-20-years-2704538). Summarized by Burnaze (https://burnaze.com/article/0158ef59-1360-4200-a40b-f3142d00ddd1).