AOL-WebEx Partnership: Another Go At The Enterprise

AOL has taken a number (three?) of runs at the enterprise, and each time in the past its own ambivalence led to a retreat. There is a report out that suggests that AOL is pairing up with Web-Ex and heading once more into the breach:

[from AOL-WebEx love-in aims to make IM pay by Greg Sandoval]

AOL is expected on Tuesday to launch two new versions of the company’s instant messaging service, which are designed specifically for businesses.

In a partnership with web-conferencing leader WebEx Communications, AOL is launching the tentatively named AIM Pro. One AIM Pro package will target small businesses and the self-employed, while another is intended to appeal to larger companies. Both will differ from the free AIM service by offering a customised interface, additional security, voice, video and web collaboration capabilities.

No mention on the AIM.com website that this moment.

I find it the strangest turn of events that AOL and the other traditional IM major players are frittering away the future of presence-based web apps — the real creativity in that area has drifted to small start-ups like Skype, Gizmo, Meetro, Dodgeball, Plazes, and 37signals — while fighting the last war amongst themselves. And look out for Google. Cmail chat is beginning to replace AIM/iChat in my life. I just wonder when Gchat will be available on the Gmail mobile version?