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iChat AV and Safari 1.0 support AIM: URLs Apps
For a long time, users of Windows browsers have been able to view and click on URLs that start with aim:, allowing automated instant messaging operations from web pages. It looks like Apple has finally integrated iChat AV and Safari 1.0 to support this sort of URL as well.

Clicking on a link like this one will launch iChat AV. You can also automatically add buddies and send messages using the same aim: URL syntax. More info can be found on AOL's AIM Remote pages.

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iChat AV and Safari 1.0 support AIM: URLs | 17 comments | Create New Account
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iChat AV and Safari 1.0 support AIM: URLs
Authored by: zedwards on Jun 26, '03 11:29:12AM

The code is <a href="aim:goim?screenname=username@mac.com&message=Hi.+Are+you+there?">

But does it really work? I get it to not add the username.



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Forget my previous question
Authored by: zedwards on Jun 26, '03 11:31:25AM

i was using my own username, when I added a friends it worked charmingly.



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iChat AV and Safari 1.0 support AIM: URLs
Authored by: zedwards on Jun 26, '03 01:35:27PM
according to this hint, you can also use a phone number for SMS (text messages), so really you should be able to have the username be +18005551212 and that person should get an SMS message.

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AIM SMS Support: Proteus
Authored by: glowurm on Jun 26, '03 04:26:12PM
This is a truly great little tip!
For those wondering - Proteus does support this, and even has SMS forwarding for your IM's that you receive!
I was floored when I read this and tested it!

http://www.indigofield.com
(wouldn't parse html for link so sorry, it's plaintext)

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iChat AV and Safari 1.0 support AIM: URLs
Authored by: yubbie2 on Jun 26, '03 11:50:33AM

Nice hint, but for me it launches some old, archived version of AOL's AIM. Any way to specify that it bring up iChat AV instead?

-Jesse



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iChat AV and Safari 1.0 support AIM: URLs
Authored by: cornsyrupkills on Jun 26, '03 12:11:14PM

yes. the link to open AIM is "aim:" and the link to open iChat is "ichat:" try it.

---
I am allergic to nuts.



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iChat AV and Safari 1.0 support AIM: URLs
Authored by: yubbie2 on Jun 29, '03 02:26:46AM

yup... that works. ichat: it is.

thanks... now i just need to trash AIM once and for all.

-jesse



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iChat AV and Safari 1.0 support AIM: URLs
Authored by: c_shotton on Jun 30, '03 02:42:12PM

If you use the ichat: URL syntax, the links will only work for Mac users. If you use aim: links, all platforms will be able to use your web-based IM functions.



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iChat AV and Safari 1.0 support AIM: URLs
Authored by: WAW401 on Jun 26, '03 12:39:07PM

Or just delete AIM out of your App folder and empty your Trash. I didn't even realize I still had AIM on my computer until I tried this hint.



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iChat AV and Safari 1.0 support AIM: URLs
Authored by: horhey23 on Sep 02, '06 02:19:01AM
This is the proper way to launch iChat specifically via hyperlink:

iChat:compose?service=AIM&id=screename&style=audiochat

Other options include:
style=audiochat
style=im

or leave out the style and it will ask the user.

Of course you need to wrap with HTML to make it a link, just use the above line instead of a URL.

I tried the other suggestions (substituting "ichat" for "aim" and they don't work. This one does.

Found here: www.codecomments.com/message289293.html

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iChat AV and SMS Messages
Authored by: zobie on Jun 26, '03 03:20:04PM

I wanted to be able to make a link to send a SMS (text message) to my cell phone but ran into problems using the '+' character. To send a SMS you should send it to the user "+1234567890" where (123) 456-7890 is the person's cell phone number. The problem is that '+' is used to denote a space. The solution is to use the ASCII value %2B in place of '+'.

Your finished link should look like this:
aim:goim?screenname=%2B1234567890&message=Hi.+Are+you+there?



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How to fix AIM: URL's coming up in AOL IM instead of iChat AV
Authored by: bryang on Jun 27, '03 12:05:02PM
If you're get the aim: url coming up in AOL instant messenger instead of iChat, you need to change the helper application that MacOS X associated with aim: urls. Unfortunately MacOS X provides no easy way to do it, but a free program Vince does.
  1. Open Vince up.
  2. Select aim from the drop down list
  3. Click "Change helper"
  4. Select iChat AV
Here's where to get it. http://www.monkeyfood.com/software/vince/

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How to fix AIM: URL's coming up in AOL IM instead of iChat AV
Authored by: sjk on Jun 27, '03 11:20:39PM
MoreInternet, also from Monkeyfood Software (like Vince), is a System Preferences plug-in for changing helper bindings.

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Doesn't work for me
Authored by: wealthychef on Jun 30, '03 09:11:50PM

Doesn't work at all for me with Safari 1.0. I get the error:
"...Mac OS X does not recognize addresses starting with aim:"



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Doesn't work for me
Authored by: DougAdams on Jul 13, '03 02:20:32PM

Start it with ichat:

---



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Fails for .Mac Screen Name
Authored by: prawotoa on Jul 11, '03 10:35:49AM

Does not work for .mac screen name. I have two screen names in the following formats:

firstnamelastname (created at AOL)
firstname_lastname@mac.com (created at .Mac)

The former works fine, but the latter only launches iChat. It lists "null" as the user. Not good.

Anyone had similar problems?



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Fails for .Mac Screen Name
Authored by: jdtangney on Sep 03, '03 05:31:49PM

Try "...@mac.co" - leave off the final "m" in "com".
--johnt



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