In yet another product move designed for consumers, but sure to make enterprise IT and telephone services folks go nuts, AOL has introduced Consumer AIM Voice Conferencing, a service that lets AOL Instant Messaging users detect the presence of online buddies and invite them into a conference call.

The service uses Lightbridge GroupTalk teleconferencing technology, which place toll-free calls directly to participants on either POTS telephones or mobile phones. AIM Voice Conferencing makes calls without special PIN numbers or special dial-in numbers.

"We had the upcoming Holiday Season in mind," said AIM senior vice president Edmund Fish, "and the Lightbridge technology makes it easy for family members living apart to connect and be together, at least by conference call."

The service sends invitations through AIM service, to mobile phone or PDA, or via recorded voice to any phone in service. AIM users can include friends who don't use the AIM service as long as they know that friend's landline or mobile phone number. They just won't be able to detect their availability using AIM presence information.

Consumer AIM Voice Conferencing service is available immediately and can be accessed at www.aim.com. Users who upgrade to AIM 5.9, which is also available at at www.aim.com, can use the Communications Tools Buddy List feature.

The service launches with a promotional offer for 500 free AVC minutes for new users. The minutes must be used within 30 days of registration for the service. After that, rates are charged on a per minute/per user basis at $0.15. Purchases are handled as bulk and are billed in increments of $20, $50, and $100. Amounts not used in the current billing month are carried over. There are no telephone toll charges, but some mobile users may incur charges, depending on their agreements.