AOL Buys Web Based IM Provider

AOL on Monday announced it had acquired Userplane, maker of Web based instant messaging and chat software. Userplane's customer base includes 100,000 Web sites that pay a monthly fee based on usage, but most notably MySpace.

AOL intends to use the company's platform to extend the reach of AIM and ICQ, and enable Userplane customers to federate their communities with AOL. Terms of the deal were not disclosed, but Userplane's 12 employees will remain in Los Angeles and operate as a wholly-owned subsidiary of AOL.