In an effort to one-up other portal driven photo-sharing services such as Flickr, AOL released a renovated Pictures, a free photo-sharing Web site with unlimited online image storage and a free print promotion. (eWEEK.com)America Online, Inc. announced today the launch of AOL Pictures, a free photo sharing Web site with unlimited online digital storage in original resolutions, photo sharing and printing.
"Available for free to anyone on the Web at AOL.com, AOL Pictures gives consumers a complete digital photo experience with benefits like unlimited, free photo storage and integration with the AIM service and our blogging tools," David Liu, General Manager and Vice President, AOL.com said in a statement Thursday.
Additional features of the new AOL Photo include an improved uploading tool with drag and drop functionality, mobile phone access to stored photos, an online print store, and slideshow and album-creation functions, as well as a sleek interface based on development platform AJAX.
Formerly known as You've Got Pictures, and boasting six million monthly visitors, AOL has relaunched the previously members-only service in a continuing effort to change its image from an online service provider to an internet portal.
While new tools and features such as these allow it to better compete with Yahoo and Google, AOL Pictures jumps into a tight photo-sharing market.
AOL adds new RSS content to its video search engine. Click here to read more.
As a seasonal promotion, AOL Pictures is offering each user 100 4x6 glossy or matte prints at no cost.
What does it offer that the other services do not?
"We have unlimited free storage," said Jay Esmele, a spokesperson for AOL, "as well as integration with AIM, AOL journals and AIM blogs."
Read the full story on eWEEK.com: AOL Revamps 'You've Got Pictures' with Portal Play
