AOL released in beta new application programming interfaces and embeddable widgets to enable developers to embed instant-messaging capabilities from the portal's popular AIM service directly into their Web sites and online communities.

The new Web AIM APIs and widgets, called AIM Whimsicals, extend AOL's Open AIM program, which the company launched in March.

The latest APIs let developers integrate a variety of services and functionality into their Web sites, including the ability to let AIM users set their availability, away messages, and profiles, AOL officials said Monday. In addition, an instant-messaging window can be embedded on a page for sending and receiving IMs. Developers can also let AIM users view their Buddy List, and access and edit their buddy icons, wallpaper, smileys, and sounds.

The embeddable IM Window and Buddy List functionalities are also available as widgets, which are small applications that can be dropped on a Web page using just a few lines of HTML.

To date, more than 50,000 developers registered for the Open AIM program, according to AOL, a unit of Time Warner. The purpose of the program is to broaden AOL's ad network by having its services embedded in third-party Web sites.