Instant Messaging comes to Baseball

America Online and Major League Baseball Advanced Media Team up to Integrate Instant Messaging into the Super-Fan Experience for the First Time Ever

Plaaaaay, Ball! In an industry first, America Online, Inc., the world’s leading interactive services company, and MLB Advanced Media (MLBAM), the interactive media and Internet company of Major League Baseball, have teamed up to bring the fun of instant messaging together with America’s favorite pastime. Just in time for the World Series, America Online and MLBAM have launched the “MLB” Buddy, an interactive AOL(R) Instant Messenger(TM) screenname that will enable tens of millions of baseball fans to vote in real-time polling, get up-to-the-minute scores and access World Series highlights via instant message (IM) and mobile instant message.(1)

Effective today, AOL members and AIM users everywhere can add the “MLB” screenname to their Buddy List(R) feature to make post season baseball even more interactive and engaging. Users can go to: http://aimtoday.aol.com/aimbots/ to sample the new Buddy, or simply click on the “+ -” icon at the base of their Buddy List, select “Buddy List Setup,” click “Add Buddy” and then type in MLB. The “MLB” Buddy will let baseball fans choose up to eight categories to get the news, alerts, trivia, statistics and scores they need during the World Series and throughout spring training, the 2005 Major League Baseball season and beyond.