AOL. Once the biggest name in internet service connectivity is ditching dial-up.
For many of you, this may come as a surprise to learn that AOL has still been offering dial-up. The internet service is a vestige of the early days of the world-wide-web.
America Online is a pioneering internet services company that played a key role in popularizing online access in the 1990s and early 2000s.
Founded in 1985, AOL became famous for its dial-up internet service, user-friendly interface, and iconic “You’ve got mail” notification. It helped millions of Americans get online, offering email, chat rooms, news, and entertainment.
You may remember in the 1990’s, the familiar, unmistakable sound of the dial-up connection was the signature tone of getting online.
But as of 2023, only about 1% of U.S. households with internet subscriptions were using only dial-up.
AOL will stop offering it on Sept. 30.