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ChatAOL Beta Central provides you with a sneak peak of pre-release AOL, AIM, and affiliate software and services. There is no cost to participate, and the software provided here is free of charge. Check out our community of Beta Testers, see how to get started, or just jump right in by clicking on a test to your left.
AIM 7.1 for Windows
Last Updated: December 3, 2009
Required Service: AIM/AOL
Platform: Win
AIM 7.1 for Windows Beta is our latest version of the AIM software. This update to the recent AIM 7 release adds new and enhances other features based on the feedback you've provided. Check it out and let us know what you think!
Very soon an auto-upgrade will be delivered to Beta 1 users to update AIM 7.1 to Beta 2. This release is simply a test of the update method introduced in AIM 7.1. If you encounter any issue with updating over the next few days, please let us know!
For more information about this test, please visit the AIM 7.1 for Windows Beta page.
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Start Testing!AIM for Mac
Last Updated: November 23, 2009
Required Service: AIM/AOL
Platform: Macintosh
AIM® for Mac continues our commitment to the growing Mac market by delivering a new AIM experience that's built from the ground up for the Mac platform.
Beta 2 is here and brings with it a number of new features, improvements and fixes for issues that you've reported. We thank you for testing and taking the time to send your feedback.
For more information or to download this release, visit the AIM for Mac 2.1 Beta page. If you're already on Beta 1 and you want to just pick it up, simply "Check for Updates" from your AIM menu.
AOL 9.6
Last Updated: December 22, 2009
Required Service: AOL
Platform: Windows
AOL's latest all-in-one Internet software that tests minor changes to the latest GM software. This test is a bit different than we've run in the past as we're looking for you to tell us of any changes in your experience. We welcome you to jump in and tell us what if anything, you observe.
The AOL Client Windows Team is preparing 9.6 for beta release and, in advance of bringing you Beta 1, we have a special request; please download, install and use 4337.162, our "beta 0" build.
For more information, please check out the AOL 9.6 page at Beta Central.
AOL Desktop for Mac 1.6
Last Updated: October 14, 2009
Required Service: AOL
Platform: Macintosh
AOL Desktop for Mac is the new, all-in-one web software developed by Mac users, for Mac users, from the ground up. Tabbed browsing, AIM integration and Email options integrated in one place give you easy access and an uncluttered, organized view for all of your windows.
AOL Mail RIA
Last Updated: May 7, 2009
Required Service: None
Platform: N/A
AOL® Mail RIA is a free, web-based email experience from AOL Mail. Created using Microsoft® Silverlight™, AOL® Mail RIA offers fast performance, exclusive themes, and the convenience of a Web-based email service with desktop-like performance and functionality.
AOL Radio for Mac 2.0
Last Updated: July 30, 2008
Required Service: AOL/AIM
Platform: Macintosh
AOL® Radio 2.0 powered by CBS Radio features over 200 stations spanning more than 25 genres of music plus 150+ CBS Radio stations from across the U.S. The new AOL Radio 2.0 beta was built on feedback from our users - the new interface is built for Apple Mac OS X Leopard.
ICQ for Windows Mobile
Last Updated: October 30, 2009
Required Service: AIM/AOL/ICQ
Platform: Windows Mobile
ICQ for Windows Mobile brings all of the best features of ICQ on your PC to your Windows Mobile smartphone! ICQ for Windows Mobile lets you communicate whenever you want, wherever you are, in whatever way suits you best.
MCOM Mail Test
Last Updated: November 20, 2009
Required Service: None
Platform: N/A
Get all the features of an AOL Mailbox but without the @aol.com. Sign up for any available user name (user@mcom.com) and use it as your identity across all AOL products and services.
Your MCOM email is now available for use with the AOL Desktop 10.1 software now in Beta. We could use your help to make sure everything works as it should within the Desktop client, so we invite you download the latest Desktop 10.1 Beta and let us know if you encounter any mail issues.
For more information and to download this AOL Desktop 10.1 beta to test the mail changes, please visit the AOL Desktop 10.1 Beta page.
SHOUTCast Radio Beta
Last Updated: September 11, 2008
Required Service: None
Platform: N/A
For music, talk radio and broadcast lovers alike, the relaunch of SHOUTcast.com offers more of everything for everyone. Check out the great new features offered by SHOUTcast.
Webmail
Last Updated: December 9, 2009
Required Service: AIM/AOL
Platform: N/A
From time to time, we put experimental features on the Webmail Beta and let you try them out before anyone else. This gives you the opportunity to use the absolute latest and get in a word of feedback on new offerings before most people ever even see them.
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January 5
AOL Desktop 10.1
The AOL Desktop 10.1 mail test we've been running has successfully completed and declared GM. Thanks to everyone who participated and helped ensure this update to the Desktop software was solid and effective!
If you are on the beta release, we highly recommend that you update to the latest GM. We do not plan any additional tests for the Desktop in beta at this time, so update as soon as possible.
December 22
AOL 9.6
We're proud to present AOL 9.6 beta 1! Just in time for the holidays too! The release adds a few new browsing features to your experience as well as includes some significant code changes that should further refine performance.
For more information, please check out the AOL 9.6 page at Beta Central.
December 7
AOL Desktop 10.1
AOL Desktop 10.1 beta 2, with support for mcom.com, goowy.com and compuserve.com email addresses, is now available! This release includes several fixes to issues you reported. Thank you for taking the time to test and tell us about your mail experiences.
For more information and to download this AOL Desktop 10.1 beta to test support for these addresses, please visit the AOL Desktop 10.1 Beta page.
December 3
AIM 7.1 for Windows
We're proud to announce that AIM 7.1 has been released and is now available on aim.com!
We'd like to send a big thank you to all of the beta testers, especially for helping us with the auto-upgrade tests. Stay tuned at Beta Central for future AIM for Windows tests!.
December 2
AOL 9.6
The AOL Client Windows Team is preparing 9.6 for beta release and, in advance of bringing you Beta 1, we have a special request; please download, install and use 4337.162, our "beta 0" build.
For more information, please check out the AOL 9.6 page at Beta Central.
November 23
AIM for Mac
Beta 2 is here and brings with it a number of new features, improvements and fixes for issues that you've reported. We thank you for testing and taking the time to send your feedback.
For more information or to download this release, visit the AIM for Mac 2.1 Beta page. If you're already on Beta 1 and you want to just pick it up, simply "Check for Updates" from your AIM menu.
November 20
AOL Desktop 10.1
We have several new things in the works here at AOL, and we need your help to test them. Currently in beta, we've opened AOL® Desktop 10.1 to support additional email systems. So you can use AOL 10.1 with any of the following email domains: mcom.com, goowy.com and compuserve.com!
For more information and to download this AOL Desktop 10.1 beta to test the mail changes, please visit the AOL Desktop 10.1 Beta page.
MCOM Mail Test
Your MCOM email is now available for use with the AOL Desktop 10.1 software now in Beta. We could use your help to make sure everything works as it should within the Desktop client, so we invite you download the latest Desktop 10.1 Beta and let us know if you encounter any mail issues.
For more information and to download this AOL Desktop 10.1 beta to test the mail changes, please visit the AOL Desktop 10.1 Beta page.
November 19
AIM 7.1 for Windows
Beta 3 is here with several fixes, primarily related to stability, and a new confirmation box when blocking users. If you're using AIM 7.1 Betas 1 or 2, you will receive notification for auto-upgrade shortly. Please use the auto-upgrade mechanism; we'd love to have additional testing of this new feature.
For more information about this test, or to download AIM 7.1 beta 3 directly, please visit the AIM 7.1 for Windows Beta page.
November 12
AIM 7.1 for Windows
Very soon an auto-upgrade will be delivered to Beta 1 users to update AIM 7.1 to Beta 2. This release is simply a test of the update method introduced in AIM 7.1. If you encounter any issue with updating over the next few days, please let us know!
For more information about this test, please visit the AIM 7.1 for Windows Beta page.