AOL Rolls Out Remote Access Service

New premium online service will allow users the ability to remotely access their PCs through an Internet connected computer.

AOL said yesterday they were rolling out a new premium service geared towards allowing users to remotely access their personal computers from any Internet-connected PC. Link2PC is powered by WebEx Communications and will be available at $6.95 per month for up to two host computers.

Link2PC, said AOL, uses a downloadable application and its Web site to create “a virtual desktop through the Web that mirrors the view of the desktop on the user’s own machine”. Through this secure virtual desktop users can interact with the remote computer to use programs, open and edit documents and access, share and print files.

“Link2PC untethers the desktop computer, and it does so in a simple and secure manner,” said Ed Fish, Senior Vice President and GM, AOL Premium and Subscription Services, in a statement. “Traditionally these kinds of products were developed solely for ‘road warrior’ business travelers, and many required an instruction manual to operate. In the last year, we’ve seen a strong desire by mainstream consumers, small office/home office users, and traditional business travelers to use this kind of functionality. Consumers may need to access a presentation they left at work, share photos saved on their home PC, or find information from their address book or calendar. Business executives can access all of the documents and programs from their work computer without lugging around a heavy laptop and lots of cables.”