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After 34 years, America Online (AOL) has announced the discontinuation of its dial-up internet service, marking the end of an era that introduced many households to the world wide web for the first time. The service will officially cease on September 30, 2025.
AOL's Rise and Fall
Launched in 1991 as America Online, the company became one of the primary gateways to the internet in the 1990s. Its dial-up service, with its distinctive screeching sound, was particularly prominent in the 90s and early 2000s. At its peak, AOL boasted 25 million subscribers, making it a central brand in early internet adoption.
However, the company's fortunes took a turn for the worse following a disastrous merger with Time Warner Inc. in 2001. This was followed by a series of tumultuous years, causing AOL's valuation to plummet. In 2009, AOL was sold to a private equity firm, and later, in 2015, it was acquired by Verizon.
The Shift to Modern Internet
The rise of broadband and wireless offerings has seen dial-up's quirks being done away with for most people accessing the internet today. As of 2023, an estimated 163,401 households in the U.S. were using dial-up alone to get online, representing just over 0.13% of all homes with internet subscriptions nationwide.
AOL's decision to discontinue its dial-up service is seen as a necessary evolution to "innovate to meet the needs of today's digital landscape." The company assures that its free AOL email and other services remain available unaffected.
Other Retired Internet Services
The discontinuation of AOL's dial-up service is not an isolated event. The broader internet landscape has seen numerous legacy services retire, reflecting evolving technologies and user habits. Notable retirements in recent years include Adobe Flash Player, Microsoft's Internet Explorer, and various older email and messaging platforms.
These retirements, alongside AOL’s dial-up shutdown, indicate a continual progression from early internet infrastructure and applications towards faster, more versatile, and secure digital services.
A Symbolic Goodbye
The end of AOL's dial-up service closes a symbolic chapter in internet history, punctuating the transition from the nascent, noisy dial-up connections of the 1990s towards a fully modern digital ecosystem. As we bid farewell to this piece of internet history, we look forward to the innovations and advancements the future holds.
[1] AOL Support Site Update [2] CNN Business [3] The Verge [4] The New York Times [5] PCMag
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