AOL, once a dominant force in the early days of the Internet, has announced the end of its dial-up Internet service, marking the closure of a significant chapter in the history of online connectivity.
Apple Inside reports that after more than four decades of providing dial-up Internet access to millions of users worldwide, American Online has decided to discontinue its iconic service. The company, which started as a very early Apple service in the 1980s, played a crucial role in ushering in the Internet age for countless individuals. Although many readers will be surprised to learn that dial-up internet was still available in the era of broadband and 5G, the company reportedly had thousands of dial-up customers remaining.
In a recent support page update, AOL informed customers that its dial-up service, along with its associated software, AOL Dialer and AOL Shield, will be discontinued on September 30, 2025. The company stated that it routinely evaluates its products and services but did not disclose the specific reasons behind the decision to end dial-up access. However, the ubiquity of faster, more modern Internet connections is likely the primary factor.
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I never had an account with AOL but would say that AOL was king of the internet in the very early years. I had an account with IBM as I just didn't care for the AOL interface. With IBM I got online and then it was up to me to figure out how to get somewhere like fidonet, etc.
Apple Inside reports that after more than four decades of providing dial-up Internet access to millions of users worldwide, American Online has decided to discontinue its iconic service. The company, which started as a very early Apple service in the 1980s, played a crucial role in ushering in the Internet age for countless individuals. Although many readers will be surprised to learn that dial-up internet was still available in the era of broadband and 5G, the company reportedly had thousands of dial-up customers remaining.
In a recent support page update, AOL informed customers that its dial-up service, along with its associated software, AOL Dialer and AOL Shield, will be discontinued on September 30, 2025. The company stated that it routinely evaluates its products and services but did not disclose the specific reasons behind the decision to end dial-up access. However, the ubiquity of faster, more modern Internet connections is likely the primary factor.

AOL Discontinues Dial-Up Internet Service After 40 Years
AOL, once a dominant force in the early days of the Internet, has announced the end of its dial-up Internet service, marking the closure of a significant chapter in the history of online connectivity.

I never had an account with AOL but would say that AOL was king of the internet in the very early years. I had an account with IBM as I just didn't care for the AOL interface. With IBM I got online and then it was up to me to figure out how to get somewhere like fidonet, etc.