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America Online released details of its upcoming Internet access software Thursday, saying that AOL 9.0 Optimized will offer enhanced mail and security features, a Web accelerator, and 3D animated buddy icons, among other bells and whistles geared at personalization and entertainment.

The new software, which will be made available to existing AOL members in the third quarter of this year, represents the third upgrade AOL has made to its service in the last 10 months. The software will be more widely distributed beginning in October, an AOL representative said.

Get the Message

The focus of this new version of the software will be AOL's new instant messaging capabilities, such as the 3D animated buddy icons, dubbed SuperBuddy icons.

"We want to deliver something fun and interesting to our members," said AOL spokesperson Anne Bentley.

At launch, AOL will offer 50 original icons, some of which animate common chat phrases by turning them into characters. The expression "LOL"--for laugh out loud--may be displayed as a comical character when a user types those letters, for example.

The new IM capabilities will also allow users to conduct real-time voice conversations and share digital pictures and Webcam clips. The company is also offering IM Bots that serve up stock quotes, news, movie times, and other information.

AOL's emphasis on instant messaging comes as the company released a report Thursday saying that 76 percent of the Internet users they surveyed use an IM application and that six of 10 personalize the application with elements such as icons, wallpaper, and sounds.

More Secure

Besides new IM offerings, the service also includes enhanced e-mail features such as built-in spam filters and added parental controls, and management tools that allow members to view recently received mail at a glance or view all of their mail from one place.

Additionally, 9.0 Optimized users will be able to permanently store 20MB of mail on AOL servers, the company said, and will include a free Web accelerator technology for speedier Web browsing.

AOL 9.0 will also extend the company's family-focused services, offering a parentally controlled account which can be used to give kids an online allowance.

Details of the service were released as the company kicked off an online promotional campaign Thursday, aimed at migrating users to the upcoming software. A sneak peek of the service can be seen online at www.aolepk.com.

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