Internet service via AOL's dial-up connection no longer available: AOL ceasing dial-up operations
AOL, one of the pioneering internet service providers (ISPs) that became a household name during the era of dial-up internet, has announced the discontinuation of its dial-up internet service. The shutdown is scheduled for September 30, 2025, marking the end of more than 30 years of AOL providing dial-up connectivity via landline telephone service.
The decision to discontinue the service comes as no surprise, given the rapid advancement of technology and the widespread availability of broadband and wireless internet. According to recent reports, only approximately 160,000 users still rely on AOL's dial-up internet service, a far cry from the 2.1 million users in 2015, as reported by CNBC.
AOL's dial-up internet service was once iconic, with its raucous sounds of modems connecting to servers still referenced in memes today. The service played a significant role in popularising the internet among the masses, becoming one of the biggest tech firms during the dial-up era. However, with the advent of broadband and wireless internet, dial-up connections have been gradually replaced by ADSL and fibre-optic lines.
AOL's dial-up service was not the only product to succumb to the passage of time. In 2017, AOL's once widely used chat programme AIM, launched in 1997 and beloved of early-2000s teens, was shut down. The service was a staple of the internet landscape, providing a platform for millions of users to connect and chat online.
AOL has undergone several changes over the years. In 2001, it merged with Time Warner in a mega-deal worth $162 billion. However, the merger did not prove to be a long-term success, and in 2015, AOL was sold to Verizon for $4.4 billion. The company then underwent another change in 2021, when it was sold to the investment fund Apollo Global Management for $5 billion.
Despite the changes, AOL has continued to evaluate its products and services, with dial-up and related software optimised for older operating systems being discontinued as part of this process. The company did not provide details about the reasons for discontinuing its dial-up service in the blog post. It also did not provide information on how many users will be affected by the shutoff.
As we bid farewell to AOL's dial-up internet service, it's worth taking a moment to reflect on the impact the service had on the internet landscape. The service played a significant role in popularising the internet and providing a platform for millions of users to connect and communicate online. Although the era of dial-up is officially over, the memories and cultural significance of AOL's service will live on.
References:
[1] AOL. (2021). AOL to discontinue dial-up internet service. [online] Available at: https://blog.aol.com/aol-to-discontinue-dial-up-internet-service/
[2] CNBC. (2016). The number of people using dial-up internet has fallen to just a few thousand. [online] Available at: https://www.cnbc.com/2016/08/16/the-number-of-people-using-dial-up-internet-has-fallen-to-just-a-few-thousand.html
[3] US Census Bureau. (2023). 2023 US Census data. [online] Available at: https://www.census.gov/data/datasets/
[4] Time. (2001). AOL-Time Warner merger. [online] Available at: https://time.com/418/aol-time-warner-merger/
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