AOL has just launched AIM Money, a revenue-share program for developers of applications for the company's instant messaging software. The program was first announced back in March, when AOL first launched their expanded developer platform: Open AIM 2.0. To start generating revenue, developers insert ads from AOL into their applications. At the moment, the focus is on display advertising, with the inventory being sold by AOL's Platform-A division.
While launch partners include BlogTV and Phonevite, other developers can get their applications considered for inclusion by checking out a new feature of AIM that is also part of the Open AIM API called "mini-applications."
Aside from the Open AIM news, the company is clearly moving full speed ahead with its newly formed AOL People Networks division, which was established after closing the acquisition of Bebo last month. Joanna Shields, formerly President of Bebo and now President of the new division, says in the release:
"AIM Money is now giving them a way to easily monetize their applications as they continue to develop new and innovative AIM-based Web experiences."