AOL debuts easy, free video chat service

AOL has launched a beta version of a free video chat service called AV that allows up to four users to chat concurrently with no software downloads and no login necessary.

AV allows up to four users to video chat simultaneously.

The move comes just a few days after Microsoft paid $8.5 billion to acquire Skype, and gives AOL a leg up on the competition with a service that's not only free, but already is integrated into AIM and social networking behemoth Facebook, allowing users to connect with anyone on those services to chat. The tie-in also gives AV instant visibility and cache.

AV enables users to send individual text messages to each other, and also allows the initiator of a chat to remove anyone from the group during a chat. Other features will be rolling out soon, said AOL, including the ability to take a "snapshot" of everyone taking part in the chat.

Currently, Apple's iPad and iPhone won't work with AV because it uses Adobe's Flash, but that is likely to change soon, as the development team explores other platforms and mobile apps. The platform works on a variety of PC browsers including Firefox, Safari, Chrome and Internet Explorer.

Using AV is simple; at http://aim.com/AV/, users click on a button that says "Start a video chat," at aim.com/AV, go through a brief one-time set-up then invite friends through AIM, Facebook, or by sending a link to them into the chat.

AOL said it had no current plan on monetizing the service.

The video chat space continues to develop as Apple and Google push other providers to offer these services. In March, rumors began to circulate that Facebook and Skype were in talks to integrate a chat service on Facebook. Of course, those rumors, before Microsoft's move, expanded last week to include discussions that Facebook might be considering acquiring Skype.

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