America Online on Monday released a beta version of AIM Sync, a service that integrates AOL's instant messaging client with Microsoft Outlook 2002 and 2003.

AIM Sync lets AOL Instant Messenger (AIM) users view the online status of contacts in Outlook's address book, shows whether e-mail senders are available for an IM chat, start up an IM conversation from within Microsoft's e-mailer, and automatically adds Outlook contacts to the AIM contact list if those contacts are AIM users.

AIM Sync's features are similar to those already found in Outlook that tie it to MSN Messenger, Microsoft's own IM client. AOL, however, sidestepped Microsoft by partnering with Intellisync, a San Jose, Calif.-based software maker, which produced AIM Sync.

The free beta of AIM Sync can be downloaded from here.