Messenger:Mate

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Messenger:Mate is a commercial computer program created by Versoworks Pty Ltd that adds features and enhances both AOL Instant Messenger versions 5.5 through 5.9 (excluding 5.5.3415) and MSN Messenger versions 6.1 through 7.5. Licences to either product can be purchased for $9.95 USD. Each licence includes technical support and free updates for one year. Afterwards, you may continue to use the software, but you must renew your licence to receive further technical support and/or updates.

Messenger:Mate for AIM is currently the only mainstream program that is compatible with AOL Instant Messenger version 5.9.

Messenger:Mate was created and is maintained by a single programmer, Maurizio Pisano, formerly the programmer of AIMutation.

1 Feature Set
2 History of Messenger:Mate
3 Features Exclusive to Messenger:Mate AIM
4 Features Exclusive to Messenger:Mate MSN
5 System Requirements

[edit] Feature Set

Both flavours (both Messenger:Mate for AIM and Messenger Mate for MSN) contain the following:

Custom skins, including transparency and translucency. Some pre-made skins are available through the Versoworks Community Forum, and you can create your own skins by means of the "theme compiler" provided with the software. Skins are also referred to as themes
Buddy aliases that allow you to rename your contacts. Aliases appear in nearly all aspects of the program, surpassing the aliasing provided by other similar products such as DeadAIM, middle man, and the now defunct AIMutation.
User profiles that allow each user of the client to keep their own personal set of settings; removing interference for multiple users.
Logging to record all of your Instant Messages and Chatroom conversations in real-time. Files sent in IMs are also logged. The formatting of all logs is preserved (including standard and SML smileys in AIM).
A log manager to allow for easy reviewing and searching of logs.
A theme compiler to allow for easy creation of themes.
Per-buddy settings to allow you to customise your settings on a per-contact basis.
Defineable hotkeys to allow for easier access to a number of Messenger and Messenger:Mate functions via a keyboard shortcut.
Suppression of flashing upon receipt of a new message.
"Snapping" the contact window/buddy list to your screen's edge.
Advertisement removal (in the AIM version, the IM ads that appear in AIM 5.9 are also removed).
Tabbed/Grouped Instant Messages (customisable through skins/themes and also positionable on any side of the IM window).
IRC-style desktop buddies allow you to place any number of your contacts on your desktop for quick and easy interaction.
Mute control allows you to disable sounds played by Messenger.
Cloning that allows you to run multiple instances of AIM/MSN Messenger.
Locking that allows you to prevent unauthorised users from accessing a running instance of AIM/MSN Messenger and hides all windows associated with AIM/MSN Messenger.
Auto-hide the contact list just like the Windows taskbar.
IRC-style Instant Message shortcuts. (e.g. /away sets away)
GAIM-style countact pounce that allows you to leave messages to be sent once your contact signs onto Messenger.

[edit] History of Messenger:Mate

Another software company, 545 Studios, previously created an enhancement program for use with AOL Instant Messenger creatively named AIMutation. AIMutation featured its trademark skinning, as does Messenger:Mate. AIMutation was originally freeware, but later became payware. Users could either opt to purchase a lifetime subscription (known as an "Elite Membership") or several download credits. Technical Support and Beta testing were exclusive to Elite Memberships, as was access to a special forum on the website.

Shae Petersen, founder of 545 Studios decided to leave the company after 5 years to pursue other interests, he and Maurizio Pisano agreed that 545 Studios would no longer be able to survive. The two co-partners, left 545 Studios and all of its projects ( AIMutation ). In order to keep from depriving those that still had download credits and those that purchased Elite Memberships, Maurizio Pisano, Em, made the software freeware and open-source.

Most notably, Tom Nolan (lordicarus) and Oren Novotny (onovotny) took over development after the software went open-source. Unfortunately, due to the nature of the project and their already busy lives, few releases were made to the existing code base. They were working on a complete rewrite of the code (aiMutation 2.0) in Microsoft.NET and during this time, the 1.X code base was all but abandoned. Due to this fact, compatibility was rarely achieved with the newer versions of AOL Instant Messenger, and the software began to stagnate with further incompatibility with every release of AOL Instant Messenger.

After Maurizio left 545 Studios, he created Versoworks. The name Versoworks is a combination of "Verso", derived from the reverse engineering that goes into Messenger:Mate and "works", taken from Dreamworks, one of the Big Ten film studios in the United States. To differ from his previous venture, he initially created Messenger:Mate for MSN Messenger. Due to popular demand, he later, surprisingly, reintroduced himself into the AOL Instant Messenger scene with the release of Messenger:Mate for AIM. This release was announced on popular Instant Messaging news websites such as Big Blue Ball. Threatened by this new competition, JDennis, home of DeadAIM, began removing any references of Messenger:Mate for AIM from their support forum. DeadAIM was previously, secretly acquired by America Online and has not had any releases since version 4.5 in 2003.

Shae Petersen went on to create 5iveover, an Internet hosting company along with Tracy Jenks. Tracy Jenks took over maintaining AIMutation's website, but recently, Maurizio threatened legal action if the domain AIMutation.com was not transferred to him. In agreement that Maurizio would handle the open source development of AIMutation, rather than simply redirecting the domain to his new project [Messenger:Mate], a term he only upheld for a short period of time.

This forcibly ended production of aiMutation 2.0, and AIMutation.com

5iveover proved to be unsuccessful and unprofitable, and Tracy and Shae gave up on the venture in mid to late 2005, letting the domain expire without renewing.

[edit] Features Exclusive to Messenger:Mate AIM

Several other features are found in Messenger:Mate for AIM. An all-inclusive list is available on the Messenger:Mate Features Page. Screenshots are also available.

[edit] Features Exclusive to Messenger:Mate MSN

Several other features are found in Messenger:Mate for MSN. An all-inclusive list is available on the Messenger:Mate Features Page. Screenshots are also available.