AOL was one of the original pioneers of instant messaging, offering the service exclusively to its members from as long ago as 1989.

It wasn't until the launch of AOL Instant Messenger (Aim) in 1997, however, that the platform really took off. The key difference was that Aim could now be used by anyone on the internet, whether they used AOL as an ISP or not.

Aim 4.7 goes way beyond just simple instant messaging. Along with the familiar buddy icons, direct file transfer and even voice communications, Aim 4.7 now offers an email facility.

After storing your buddy's email address for the first time, it's a doddle to click on the mail icon and send them a message - great for if they're not currently online. However, you can only send messages if you have an AOL, Compuserve or Netscape email address.

If you only ever chat to your buddies, you may be better off with a multiple-protocol client such as Trillian, but if you're after the above advanced features, Aim is the way to go.

Note: The download below is for Windows. To download the latest Mac version (currently 4.3), click here.