AOL to Discontinue Dial-Up Internet Service by 2025
Abandoning Dial-up Service: A Farewell to a '90s-'00s Internet Relic by AOL
After more than three decades of providing online connectivity, AOL (originally America Online) has announced that it will be discontinuing its iconic dial-up internet service. The official end date for this legacy offering is September 30, 2025.
The dial-up service, known for its distinctive high-pitched chirping sound, was a pioneer in the early days of the World Wide Web. AOL was famously associated with the internet due to its free trial discs, which were popular in households during the 1990s, and its catchy greeting, "You've got mail."
This decision does not affect modern-day wireless internet. The discontinuation of AOL's dial-up service only applies to the AOL Dialer software and AOL Shield browser. AOL, now part of Yahoo, will continue to operate under its new ownership, having been sold to private equity firm Apollo Global Management for $5 billion in 2021.
The dial-up service connected to the internet using a conventional telephone line. It provided a gateway to the World Wide Web for many people during a time when broadband and wireless technologies were not yet widely available.
AOL made the announcement on its website, stating that dial-up internet will no longer be available in its plans. The company has evaluated its products and services and decided to end this offering, marking the conclusion of an era in internet history.
Despite this change, AOL's legacy will undoubtedly live on as a significant part of the early internet era. The familiar dial-up sounds and AOL catchphrases will continue to symbolise the early days of connectivity for many.
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