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FILE-The homepage of America Online is pictured on a computer screen. (Photo by Andrew Harrer/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

AOL plans to shut down its dial-up internet service, which has been a staple for keeping users connected to the internet.

The company announced on its website that the service will no longer be available in AOL plans for customers. 

When is AOL dial-up internet going away?

Why you should care:

Service is set to stop on Sept. 30, according to a company webpage titled “Dial-up Internet to be discontinued.”

The service and related software, the AOL Dialer software, and AOL Shield browser, which are used to maximize older operating systems and dial-up internet connections, will end. 

AOL added in the message on its website that the shutdown of the internet dial-up is part of a regular assessment of products and services. 

In a statement obtained by FOX Business, AOL said, “We are discontinuing the dial-up internet service component included in certain legacy AOL Advantage, CompuServe, and Netscape Connect Plans as we innovate to meet the needs of today’s digital landscape,” a spokesperson for Yahoo – which counts AOL among its brands.”

“This change does not impact the numerous other valued products and services that these subscribers are able to access and enjoy as part of their plans. There is also no impact to our users’ free AOL email accounts,” the statement added.

When did AOL launch?

The backstory:

AOL, formerly known as America Online and known for its “You’ve got mail” messages, buddy lists and instant messaging services, was founded in 1985 and became the leading internet service provider in the 1990s. 

In 1993, Time noted that AOL launched its own email addresses and access to the rest of the internet for its users. According to FOX Business, free trial discs were shipped to homes when the internet as the company gained traction. AOL customers needed a home phone line for the service.

AOL became the nation’s largest internet provider by 2000 with a net worth of $125 billion. AOL merged with Time Warner, but the companies parted ways in 2009 and AOL continued making money off its dial-up internet service, Time noted. 

The Source: Information for this story was provided by AOL, FOX Business, USA Today, and Time.  This story was reported from Washington, D.C. 

 

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