AOL recently released AIM Phoneline, a service that enables AIM users to get free local phone numbers and to answer incoming calls from landline and mobile phones directly from their computer.

AOL Phoneline will be strictly tied to AIM instant-messaging service, forcing callers to place outbound calls via a headset.

You can either subscribe to the Free Basic Plan to only receive calls to your computer or to the Unlimited Plan, which enables subscribers to also make free calls to any telephone upon payment of a low monthly fare.

Here the details:

AIM Phoneline is a new service that offers all AIM users a free, local phone number - called AIM Digits - to receive unlimited incoming calls online through AIM with a free subscription.

When you are logged into AIM and a call comes in, a call alert shows up on the screen. You can answer the call, send it to voicemail or do nothing and the call goes to voicemail automatically.

The Free Basic Plan will log calls and allow callers to leave a voice mail with Phoneline whenever a user is not available. An integrated SMS service will alert users that a voice mail has been left. The new service also offers free online voicemail, call log and the capability to see the caller ID.

The Unlimited Plan will allow subscribers to place free unlimited calls to landline numbers in the U.S., Canada, and 30 other countries. The software will also include advanced features such as click-to-call services from your AIM Buddy List, voicemail with screening, alerts sent to your mobile phone, call blocking, and e911 support.

AOL already offered the so called AOL Internet Phone Service, a VoIP service oriented around the telephone launched last year, but it happens to be totally different from the current AIM Phoneline.

Mark Hachman from PCmag.com reports:

"This is different," said Krista Thomas, an AOL spokeswoman, via an email, when asked to differentiate between Phoneline and the AOL Internet Phone Service. "That was Vonage-like; this is Skype-like," she said, referring to the manner in which Vonage customers place calls over the phone, but users of the Skype application can use a PC.

AOL just released an upgraded version of its AIM Triton service, called the "AIM Triton 1.5 Preview Edition". Available for free download, the software offers easier access to the new AIM Phoneline service plus several other features among which there is AIM Location, a plugin that lets users place themselves on a MapQuest map in relation to their buddies.

System requirements
To use AIM Phoneline you'll need a computer running Windows, Internet Explorer and the latest AIM software. If you don't have AIM yet, you can download it for free. In addition, your computer needs to be connected to the Internet (high speed recommended, but it works on dial up, too), speakers and a microphone, or a USB headset.

AIM Phoneline numbers are currently available only for users who reside in the U.S.

Price
The Unlimited Plan costs US $ 9.95 per month and allows you to make and receive unlimited calls to and from up to 30 countries.

Learn more
Watch the demo of AIM Phoneline.

Try out the Unlimited Plan free for one month.

Read the Free Basic Plan FAQs and the Unlimited Plan FAQs

Download the classic version of AIM.

Download AIM Triton 1.5 Preview Edition.