AOL update

AOL, the internet pioneer that introduced millions of Americans to the web in the 1990s, will discontinue its dial-up internet service on September 30. The company announced this decision after more than three decades of operation. The decision to end dial-up service marks the end of an era for AOL, once known as America Online.

Despite the widespread adoption of broadband and wireless internet, AOL maintained its dial-up service, which connects users to the internet via a landline. According to the 2023 US Census, approximately 160,000 people still use this method to access the internet.

AOL's dial-up service was a cultural icon in the 1990s, known for its distinctive connection sounds and the famous "You've Got Mail" notification. However, the company has since diminished in prominence, with its popular messaging service, AIM, shutting down in 2017. AOL, now owned by a private equity firm that also owns Yahoo, has undergone several ownership changes, including a notable merger with Time Warner.