Source: news.searchenginestoday.org
America Online (AOL) announced that is has acquired Userplane, a pioneer in community networking software.
Userplane develops and markets easy-to-use, Web-based chat and instant messaging (IM) tools that can be rapidly deployed and seamlessly integrated into a variety of Web services.
The agreement with AOL was signed on July 28th and closed last week. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.
Originally founded in 2001 by Michael Jones, Nate Thelen and Javier Hall, Userplane has licensed its chat technology to more than 100,000 Web sites and online communities, and has a presence in more than 25 countries. Key customers include MySpace.com, Honda, Date.com, Spark, IGN, Tagged, Red Bull, Marvel Comics, and others.
Userplane’swide network of online communities includes social networking and dating websites, blogs, and niche communities.
Userplane offers its Web-based chat and instant messaging services under three business models. There is a monthly licensing model in which customers pay fees based on usage, a free model in which Userplane represents the resulting advertising inventory, and a hybrid model through which licensed clients can also place Userplane’s advertising inventory on their site and share in the proceeds.
Userplane’s visitors spend an average of at least 20 minutes engaged inthe Userplane experience per visit, which enables Userplane to provide rich advertising space - including streaming audio and video. Because the Userplane experience is fundamentally user-centric, advertisers can precisely target their audience based on user profiles and demographics.
The trend-setting and early-adopting 18 to 35 demographics is best represented among Userplane’s large and rapidly growing user base.
"Userplane will expand and extend the reach and relevance of the AOL instant messaging franchise, while continuing to provide social networking audiences and specialized communities with brandable clients tailored to meet their needs," said Ted Leonsis, vice chairman and president, AOL Audience Business.
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