How Gmail did it and how YOU can do it too ?

I am sure most of you have noticed the new GMail + AIM integration - if not you can read about it several blogs.

Two important Open API/SDKs from AOL/AIM made it possible:
- AIM provides an SDK (code name 'AIMcc') that allows you to make use of complete AIM functionality in your custom clients.
- AOL's OpenAuth APIs provide a way for doing direct authentications from trusted clients/proxies so they can obtain an authentication token that can be used to do things on behalf of the users.

AIM also provides simpler Web APIs, called 'WebAIM', that can be used from Web Apps (MashUps/Gadgets/Widgets/etc...) too, to bring the core AIM functionality to Web. They also provide a Javascript library that can be used directly without worrying about internal details mainly for those that want to get things working very quickly. The Javascript library includes the necessary functionality to interact with OpenAuth APIs too.

So that's how it's done and how easy it is to do the same in your Applications too. What are you waiting for ? :-) You can build cool new apps too and let us know how our APIs work.