AOL announced the AOL Open Mobile Platform at MWC, supposedly making it simple for developers to create cross-platform applications for mobile phones. Rather than developing a java version, BREW version, Symbian, and Windows Mobile version, you could just use AOL’s tools to get it done. Oh, and they’ll also ‘help’ you use their APIs for AIM, MapQuest, Winamp, and other AOL properties.
Sounds pretty good, actually. I for one would LOVE to see Winamp on my N95, with some way to easily allow it to talk to Winamp on my desktop over WiFi, 3G, or USB. The rest? Meh.
Developers can also monetize their creations using AOL’s Platform-A advertising. Nice how that works out, eh? Honestly, though, other than AIM and Winamp, I often wonder how AOL is still around. I don’t know ANYONE who uses anything other than those.