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Google has introduced a web-based client for AOL Instant Messenger chatting as part of Gmail. AIM Chat in Gmail is Gmail’s latest feature to chat with your AIM buddies from Gmail. Gmail uses Open AIM service to provide this feature.

Gmail chat now offers the option to sign in to your AOL Instant Messenger (AIM) account to chat with your AIM buddies from Gmail. Your AIM buddies will populate your Contacts list, and are searchable just like your Google Talk contacts.

Chatting with your AIM buddies is easy — just click on a name in your chat list, and start typing.

With this feature, you can now sign into your AIM account via Gmail chat and talk with AIM buddies just like you do with your Google Talk friends.

To chat with AIM users from Gmail, you will still need an AIM account, as AIM in Gmail is not a Google Talk and AIM federation. Just click the down arrow next to your status message and select “Sign into AIM”. Enter your AIM screen name and password to connect. Once connected, your AIM buddies will appear in the list of quick contacts and allow you to send and receive instant messages from Gmail.

This AIM Chat in Gmail feature works in Internet Explorer 7 and Firefox 2. For more details, read About AIM in Gmail.