AOL Adds Blogging Tools

America Online continued to court users with new content and services this week, adding both Web logging tools and expanded National Football League audio and video programming to its grab bag of Internet offerings.

The Dulles, Virginia, Internet service provider introduced the AOL Journals feature Monday, allowing users to create an online journal, or blog, replete with photos and even MP3 sounds.

The journals are free to members and can be written and updated on the Web, as well as by AOL Instant Messenger, cell phone text messages, or the telephone through the AOL by Phone service.

The journals are aimed at boosting AOL's community feel; other members can post comments or feedback. The feature is integrated with AOL's Picture Finder and allows users to embed photos in their text entries.

AOL isn't the only Internet service provider interested in blogging, as Google has gotten into the game recently with its buy of Pyra Labs, the company behind the Blogger site. Additionally, Yahoo said this week that its South Korean subsidiary is offering a new blogging service.

Targeting Football Fans

AOL is also playing up to sports fans, announcing an expanded alliance with the NFL Tuesday to provide broadband users exclusive programming.

AOL for Broadband subscribers are being offered free access to NFL game previews, highlights, commentary, and other programming.

The new features come on the heels of a series of new offerings from the ISP as it fights to retain and win more users in the fiercely competitive market. Already this year AOL has introduced a voice-mail service; a premium antivirus offering; extra security features; and a stand-alone Communicator application that allows users to manage e-mail, contacts, and personalized news.