June 2006
Friday, June 16, 2006
adamkb at 6:59:00 PM EDT Blog about this entry |
Add to del.icio.us | 
digg this
AOL Communicator, R.I.P.
Apparently AOL is dropping its AOL Communicator software, as Shawn Christopher notes. At least from its web site at communicator.aol.com.
It's still available for download on AOL at Keyword: AOL Communicator. Grab it while you can, if you want it.
Update: Oct 26, 2007
Per the comments you've all been posting, I dusted off my copy of AOL Communicator. I can confirm that while the product works for receiving AOL mail, it no longer seems able to send AOL mail.
AOL has not made any changes to its SMTP server, so I assume that AOL Communicator used a secret server that is no longer functioning. Since AOL Communicator has been discontinued for well over a year now, I wouldn't expect any help.
Update: Nov 17, 2007
Thanks to raymondhk and wstevens and everyone else in the Comments section of this journal entry for finding a fix that will make Communicator continue to work.
I don't want to take credit for their work, so please scroll down for all the details.
Please continue to use the comments on this entry to discuss how to ensure the longevity of Communicator.
adamkb at 6:59:00 PM EDT Blog about this entry |
This entry has 73 comments: (Add your own)
-
I have used Communicator for years. I have tried BAT and Thunderbird but find them lacking. Communicator always gave me a little icon in the lower right hand Task Bar that indicated whether I had mail. This icon would stay there until I had actually opened the email. None of the other programs (that I can find) give me that function.
So, I would love to use Communicator for all my emails. However, like others, I find that it will not allow me to send email.
So, is there a work-around? Or am I being forced to use another program like Thunderbird? I like Thunderbird, but it is missing a few features as mentioned above.
Any suggestions? -
My AOL Communicator completely stopped working and I can't find the setup files. Is there any other way to retrive or see my emails or does anyone have the setup files I can use to re-install the program?
Thank you.
Mark -
Does anyone know if there's a way to tweak the AOL Mail preferences for incoming mail? For Thunderbird, the incoming mail server is "imap.aol.com" with a port of 143. Can this info be factored into AOL Communicator, so as to retrieve messages? Ever since AOL discontinued Communicator, I've been having trouble moving messages around between folders. It was never an issue before, and I'm thinking that I'll be able to maneuver messages if I at least have the ability to retrieve messages. Thanks.
-
>I can receive all my email from other accounts. However, it won't let me
> send ANY email from ANY of my accounts because it states I don't have an AOL
You need to install Thunderbird first and then install the extension. There are a few things I don't like about Thunderbird with respect to using it for AOL, but it generally works. One thing you should note, if you use the IMAP mail server, unless you save the messages received and sent to the Local Folder, your mail will only be on the AOL server, so if you have personal correspondence and you stop using AOL, you will lose that mail unless you save it locally. AOL has a POP server, but I had some issues - if I checked mail on the computer with the POP server, the messages were no longer left on the AOL server even if I checked the box to leave on the server. If you only check mail on one computer, it's probably OK to use the AOL POP server. Mozilla has pretty good instructions on setting up AOL, but you will have to tweak some things to get the mail saved locally. For sent mail, there is a place in the settings you can use to save it locally. For mail you receive, you have to set up a message filter to save it locally. Otherwise you can periodically copy the messages manually from the AOL inbox to your local inbox.
Hope that's not all too confusing. I still think AOL Communicator was better designed to work with AOL e-mail, but alas, they have made it impossible, unless somebody else can come up with a tweak. I tried, but just don't have time to fight with software that the designer has decided to force into obsolescence. I think they want you to send out of their web interface so every message will have that little advertisement at the bottom. Not so great if you use AOL for business.
I have a trip coming up, if I have time when I get back, I'll put up some better instructions for using the mail impo -
Raymond,
I can receive all my email from other accounts. However, it won't let me send ANY email from ANY of my accounts because it states I don't have an AOL account set up.
I have set up AOL thorugh IMAP and I am able to receive aol mail along with all my other mail. I just can't send any mail!
Can you tell me the work around to send mail? I can't stand using any of the other programs!
Thanks,
CTP -
Let us know what you find out!
-
OK, it looks like maybe they pulled the plug for real this time. I can send messages using one of the workarounds, but it appears that I can't receive my AOL messages. If you look at the directory tree on the left side, I see a little red "X" next to the account name top folder level. I know I have new messages, because I see them on the webmail interface, but nothing has been delivered to Communicator since 3/31/08. Other POP accounts are still working.
I'm playing with just setting up the AOL accounts as POP accounts instead in Communicator, initial tests indicate I can receive, but I haven't successfully sent yet. I looked around and played with a couple of settings in the ac_mail.prefs file, but no luck. Might be easier just to switch them to POP accounts. Might be easiest just to switch mail programs, but I'm a glutton for punishment. -
I saw that feature on each of the 2 software products that I purchased, but I didn't use it. All of my current addresses I already have in Outlook. By the way, software support is quite good both by phone and e-mail.
-
When you converted your AOL Communicator saved email messages to Outlook by using the software you purchased, were you able to transfer your AOL address book as well?
-
Last night, I bought the software that was mentioned (thanks) and it was a very fast download. Then, I bought ePreserver today to get the mail from my AOL 9.0 accounts (just in case) (total for both - $74.90). That also took just minutes to do. Now I literally have thousands of e-mails in Outlook Express. I am creating folders in My Documents and I am highlighting e-mails in Outlook Express and dragging them to the folders and then deleting them in Outlook Express to clean that up. The only problem is I would like to have headings that say To and From in these folders where the e-mails are listed - like it is in Outlook Express. Any suggestions?
-
Thank you so much. I had searched for a program to do that and never found one. I was going to spend part of the weekend sending the messages that I had to have out of AOL.
-
Well, in an act of shear desperation, I purchased conversion software that was able to convert all of my locally saved Communicator email to Outlook 2003. It saved them in a PST I created and maintained all of my original folders. Its called Address Magic Personal PLUS from: http://www.connectedsw.com/Ov
erview/57262
Upside: I've got all of my email in its orginal format! Yeah!
Downside: It cost 50 bucks. :-(
Eh, to me, it was worth it. -
I use AOL Communicator on a Mac. Does anyone know of a way of transferring emails saved on the local folder and the address book to another email program?
-
I got online with tech support. After an hour plus and two supervisors later, I was told it could only move the mail that was still on the server, nothing stored in the local mail folder unless it was still on the server. Wish we could get them to take a zip file and convert it to local mail.
-
Regarding the below written statement from AOL:
"Also, if you have mail stored on your local folders on Communicator you can move them to your unlimited “Saved on AOL” folder. That way you can have access to this mail anywhere anytime."
I cannot seem to do this at all. An error message blocks my way. It states "Unable to move mail to AOL account. Some of the messages either did not originate there or have been permanent deleted".
Any idea how to get around this error message? Thanks !! -
I got this email as well. March 31 is going to be a sad, sad day. I've been using AOL Desktop on my lap top. It's okay, but I don't like how you have to forward mail to multiple people. It makes a sound when you get new mail, but you can barely hear it. I'll miss "It appears you have electronic mail".
-
It's official, I just got the following e-mail. I don't know if this means that it won't work even with the tweaks or not. Funny they're just announcing this now since it hasn't really worked right for months.
Dear AOL Communicator User,
Thank you for using AOL Mail products. We wanted to inform you that we will discontinue support and availability of AOL Communicator as of March 31, 2008.
Meeting your online needs by providing you with first class mail products is our number one goal. As such, we have several options available. In place of Communicator you can continue to receive and send your mail through any of the following:
1. Through any browser access our webmail suite at http://dc.aol.com/cgi-bin25/DM/y/jwsD0BTCSqL0MhG0FXJ0Ek (or via your mobile device at http://dc.aol.com/cgi-bin25/D M/y/jwsD0BTCSqL0MhG0PiD0E6 )
2. Try the newest version of our software, AOL Desktop. Download it at http://dc.aol.com/cgi-bin25/DM/y/jwsD0BTCSqL0MhG0PHc0E4. AOL Desktop retains many familiar features of Communicator: integrated AIM and multiple email accounts. In addition, the AOL Desktop integrated experience includes a customizable toolbar and tabbed web-browsing.
3. Manage your mail by using any program that supports IMAP or POP3, such as Microsoft® Outlook ( Outlook instructions) or Mozilla® Thunderbird (Thunderbird instructions).
4. Enjoy the flexibility to read and send your mail via other third-party mail clients that you choose. Find out how.
Also, if you have mail stored on your local folders on Communicator you can move them to your unlimited “Saved on AOL” folder. That way you can have access to this mail anywhere anytime.
Thank you for using AOL Mail.
Sincerely,
The AOL Mail Team -
After many machinations, I did manage to get this to work on my laptop as well but it seems a bit convoluted Here are the steps I followed:
1. You need to add an account to AOL communicator that is a non-AOL account. I used my road runner account (which is a pop account), but I'm sure you can even enter a completely fake account.
2. Click on Edit->Account Settings. Select the newly added account and click on the Edit button.
3. On the Edit Account panel, the second box is for the Outgoing Server. It will show the outgoing server associated with the account you just entered. Click on the drop drown and change it to the server associated with the AOL account.
4. Click on the Edit Server button. The parameters I put in here are:
Server Name: smtp.aol.com:587
Use Secure Connection: Never
Use Authentication when sending mail: check on
SMTP User: AOL user name
SMTP Password: AOL password
Remember SMTP Password: check on (this must be checked before you an specify the password)
I think what clinched the setup for me was to have the smtp password remembered. I'm not big on saving passwords in general, and I think not having that available caused the message sending to fail.
-
ok its time ,since the fall ive been using aol communicator to read and an aol.com and my palm to send email .
i finally have to move on, im going to make the move to mac.i think im going to use entourage for email and get software to run windows (http://www.parallels.com/en/products/desktop/?from=button) side-by-side with Mac OS X on any Intel-powered Mac.
so i thought i would use the Connected Software to import my emails to entourage but for now only can think of using the apple service assistant 1.1 (http://www.apple.com/downloads/macosx/internet_utilities/ao lserviceassistant.html) to import the address book to my mac .
im not looking forward to it . anyone have any better easier ideas??
danny -
Thanks All for the fix, I've been trying all different mail programs but I'm so used to communicator that I just kept going back even though I could not send e-mails. Thanks to the fix posted here I'm back in business and everything is working again.
-
After correcting the recent problems in sending email in Communicator yet having no problems in receiving mail, for the past three days I cannot receive or send email. All I get is the "connecting to AOL" and it just keeps running with no resolution. Obviously AOL has made some further changes to totally frustrate the remaining users of Communicator. Anyone figure out a way to get us back working? Dougn
-
yes, they connect differently one is connected to a cable modem via a netgear router, the other is either on wifi or dialup. I'm going to have the laptop on the same network router as the desktop this weekend, so will experiment some more. The two systems do use different firewalls, but that being said, they both worked until a few months ago, and both stopped being able to send at the same time.
I may also try to put a copy of the ac_mail.prefs file from the desktop on the laptop, since all the accounts accessed are the same on both systems. -
davenyc,
A difference might depend on how the two machines are connecting to the Internet. Are they both set up to use the same provider, or is there a difference? Are they both at the same location (home, work), or is there a difference? -
Ok, here's another one. I have two pc's - one a desktop with WinXP pro, and a laptop with WinXP Pro. On the desktop I change the pref's file to have an entry of smtp1: smtp.aol.com and it worked fine! on the laptop, I try the exact same change, and it didnt work. I also tried it with smtp.aol.com:587 but still no go. any suggestions?
-
Wait Time Warner /AOL's stock is at a 3 year low. Why would we be suprised that concern for Communicator users isnt a priorty. Even at free Aol is a poor value when you take into account their lack of customer service. It was nice while it lasted, but it's time to say goodbye to AOL.
-
Connected Software has updated Address Magic Personal PLUS to support converting AOL Communicator email to numerous other email formats. However, converting the AOL Communicator address book is not supported.
There's a money back guarantee that it will work:
http://www.connectedsw.com/Overview/57262
You can also convert email saved on AOL by choosing IMAP as the source and using imap.aol.com as the host name.
(Full disclosure: I work for Connected Software.) -
About using Thunderbird.
I use Thunderbird as my main email client. However, I've been using AOL for over ten years, and its Address Book is my most extensive resource. This is why I use AOL Communicator with IE. While you can mirgrate AOL Address Book to Thunderbird, it does not update automaticlly, so this is a bit of a pain. There is a thrid party soultion from PLAXO, but it's a bit clumsy, but it does work. Go to AOL's Mail Center for more details here, aol://1722:welcome -
Hey everyone, Happy Holidays.
I've read these comments with great interest, because of problems sending email from within IE. This morning, some of the comments gave me an idea. I didn't want to play with that "ac_mail.prefs" file in the Applications Data folder. So, I went to Account Settings in AOL Communicator. I chose one of my non AOL email accounts, and in Outgoing SMTP drop down box I selected AOL, then click on the Edit Server button. Here I could change the name of the outgoing mail server. I left off the numbers and it seems to be working fine.
Hope this will help someone. -
I need it as well. If anyone has it, please let me know Professorwaffles@aol.com
-
Any idea where I can download it? I need it quite badly.
Much thanks! -
I've been having intermittent problems myself. Maybe it's time to give it up and move to another e-mail client. Earlier in this blog there was a link about importing info into Thunderbird, for those interested in migrating. Haven't tried it myself, but if I do I'll report back.
-
seems like the problem is BACK! Worked last night 12/20, but today can't send again - same SMTP error! Anyone else having this problem?
-
Is there any program that will move mail saved on my computer from AOL Communicator to any other mail program. I have three years of saved mail.
-
Why not just move to thunderbird or outlook?
-
Hi all, i found the edit is work perfectly for my case.
However when I startup AOL Communicator, the web page is shown redirected, how to fix the startup page problem beside manualy click the redirect shortcut?
thank you. -
This is getting weirder. One email address is working okay, I can send and receive email. The other one I can neither send or receive email.
-
My communicator worked perfectly after the fix. Then this morning I tried sending something and got the message"error connecting to SMTP server SMTP.aol,com:587. Does anyone know what's going on and how to fix it?
Thanks. -
This fixed worked for me for the past month. But as of yesterday, 12/1/07, it no longer seems to work. When I open Communicator, it shows Connecting to server aol.com... but never connects, never updates my inboxes, but also never gives me an error message. Is this a problem that other people are having or is it unique to my computer?
-
With respect to the comment from sagebrushequine regarding Vista, it does appear that I have a space in the line you are talking about so it is something like:
smtp1.host: smtp.aol.com
I don't have Vista, so can't tell if you have a Vista-specific problem (from what I can tell just having Vista constitutes a problem in itself).
I've never had to add the :587 to the end to get it to work for me, but of course your mileage may vary. I have set this up on a couple of computers, and a reboot is definitely in order. Make sure you fully exit AOL Communicator before you do the edits (clearing the little icon from your system tray at the bottom right of your screen) and don't open it again until after you reboot. On one of my computers, it appeared to crash Communicator a few times before it decided to start working with no changes on my part. -
Thank god I found this site. I just tried the fix and it worked!! I tried the new AOL Desktop and I just hated the way you have to send email to multiple people. I have used communicator for years and felt lost without it. Thank you, thank you!
-
I am running the aol mail in my Windows Vista mail to get it. I too cannot get out on the server. SMTP error connecting to aol.com server - for Communicator. Mail comes in but won't go out on Communicator. Tried the notepad and such. Nothing has worked. I run Vista.
Communicator worked for two months after my Vista was on. Then boom nothing.
Any other suggestions? I put in smtp.aol.com:587 in all my screen names.
then took it out, did reboots etc. arrrgh...
Should there be a space in front of the smtp word, or should it run in with the
smtp1.host ie smtp1.host:smtp.aol.com:587
This is a pain. I have a brand new Dell computer.
Thanks -
Thank you, AdamKB. The fix does work when one spells the command prpoerly. I should not try to do anything after midnight.
-
rgventura ,
Make sure you're spelling it correctly - "smtp" rather than "smpt." -
The fix requiring changing smpt.aol.com to smpt. aol.com:587 did not work for me. I am a Mac user. Is there another step that must be made?
-
didibonoo4 -
Sorry to hear you are still having a problem.
This is the line from the "ac_mail.prefs" file that works for me.
smtp1.host: smtp.aol.com:587 (No quotes)
You may have to look for smtp2.host, or smtp3.host etc. and make the change there as well.
I hope this helps. -
wstevens,
I tried the smtp.aol.com:587 too, but it's still a no go. In fact, I actually get an error message with smtp.aol.com:587 where I don't with just smtp.aol.com I'm wondering if there is an additional preference in the file that I should be editing in notepad?
Thanks. -
Thanks, the fix works!
However, you must enter smtp.aol.com:587 for it to work.
So the instructions should read:
Quit AOL Communicator.
For Macintosh users - Go to your "Home folder/Library/Application Support/AOL Communicator/ac_mail.prefs"
Go to "C:\Documents and Settings\Username\Application Data\AOL Communicator" Where username is your logon name in Windows (NOT your AOL username).
Look for a file called "ac_mail.prefs"
Make a backup copy of this file, in case you mess it up, or you find out this fix doesn't work for you.
Open the file in Notepad. (TextEdit if using a Mac)
Look for a line like "smtp1.host: aol.com"
Change it to read "smtp1.host: smtp.aol.com:587"
It looks like for each user, you should make a similar change, for instance if you are reading a second AOL account there will be an entry "smtp2.host: aol.com" that you will have to edit.
When you are done, save the file and close it. Open AOL Communicator. You may have to reboot. -
I just don't understand it. I changed the server to smtp.aol.com but it doesn't work for me. Now when I try sending an e-mail, instead of getting the error message, it just hangs and then makes my account go offline. It then saves the message in the Outbox folder. Is this happening to anyone else besides me??? Does anyone know a fix for this, or why it's not sending?
-
raymondhk,
Thanks for the post! It works great!
mmillerfly -
I had to add "smtp.aol.com:587" to get my AOL Communicator working consistently again. So far ... so good! :)