AOL Discontinues Dial-Up Internet Service, Marking the End of an Era
AOL, once a titan of the internet era, has officially discontinued its dial-up internet service. The move marks the end of an era for a service that once connected millions to the World Wide Web. At its peak in 2000, AOL's market value soared to nearly US$164 billion (NZ$281 billion) during the dot-com boom. The service was characterized by distinctive beeps and buzzes, and frequent free trial CD mailings. However, the rise of broadband and wireless offerings has led to a decline in dial-up users. In 2021, only 'low thousands' of users remained, down from 2.1 million in 2015. AOL's dial-up service was not the only internet service to be discontinued. Other platforms like AOL Instant Messenger and Internet Explorer have also been retired. As of 2023, an estimated 163,401 households, representing over 0.13% of all homes with internet subscriptions, still used dial-up alone nationwide. Despite AOL no longer advertising the service, smaller providers continue to offer it. AOL's dial-up service, which introduced many households to the internet in the 90s and early 2000s, has now been discontinued. The service, pioneered by Steve Case, will be remembered as a significant part of internet history. With broadband and wireless offerings now dominant, the era of dial-up has come to an end.
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