America Online Members Can Now Access AOL Mail Using Popular Third-Party E-Mail Applications; AOL Announces Support for IMAP E-Mail Protocol for Accessing AOL Mail

DULLES, Va.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 21, 2004--America Online(R), Inc., the world's leading interactive services company, today announced the availability of a new Open Mail Access feature that lets AOL(R) members access their AOL(R) Mail from popular applications such as Microsoft(R) Outlook(R), Outlook Express(R), Eudora(R), Entourage(R) for Mac, and other commercial and freeware applications that use the IMAP protocol. AOL's new Open Mail Access feature is designed to give members added flexibility by allowing them to manage their AOL Mail from the e-mail application of their choice. The IMAP protocol offers a number of advantages over other e-mail standards including the ability to store messages and folders on a server, automatic synchronizing of messages and folders, and faster display of messages.

"AOL is the only major consumer online service to support the IMAP protocol and we are pleased to provide our members with another choice for accessing their AOL Mail with our new Open Mail Access feature," said Roy Ben-Yoseph, Director of E-mail Products for AOL. "We believe AOL(R) for Broadband members and advanced users will be especially interested in Open Mail Access because they not only want 'always available' access to AOL Mail and other features, but they also want more choices and flexibility for how they access these features, no matter where they are or what computer or browser they may be using."

“AOL is the only major consumer online service to support the IMAP protocol and we are pleased to provide our members with another choice for accessing their AOL Mail with our new Open Mail Access feature”

As part of AOL's continuous and aggressive efforts to help members fight junk e-mail, AOL members who use third-party e-mail applications to access AOL Mail will still be protected by AOL's Mail and Spam Controls including AOL's proprietary server-side anti-spam filters, the ability to move junk e-mail to their Spam Folder, the preferences set through their "Custom Word List" blocking tool, the ability to block e-mails containing clickable hyperlinks, and the controls they've set to manage from whom they receive mail.

The Open Mail Access feature is available now at no additional charge to all AOL and AOL for Broadband members on the Windows(R) or Mac OS(R) operating systems. Set-up instructions for specific IMAP e-mail clients are available at AOL(R) Keyword: Open Mail Access.

Open Mail Access is the latest addition to AOL's growing line-up of products and services designed to make it easy and convenient for members to access their AOL Mail anytime, anywhere. Last year, AOL launched AOL(R) Communicator, a standalone communications suite for advanced users that brings together AOL Mail, the Instant Messenger(TM) service, the AOL(R) Address Book, Radio@AOL for Broadband and personalized news and information. AOL also provides "always available" e-mail access through the AOL for Broadband service, from the AOL.com(R) Web site and via wireless devices available through most major wireless carriers in the U.S.(1)

About America Online, Inc.

America Online, Inc. is a wholly owned subsidiary of subsidiary of Time Warner Inc. Based in Dulles, Virginia, America Online is the world's leader in interactive services, Web brands, Internet technologies and e-commerce services.

(1) Note: Requires Web-enabled device. Additional charges from wireless carriers may apply for wireless access.