AOL has announced the termination of its dial-up internet service next month, concluding a 34-year legacy that became synonymous with America's initial foray into cyberspace. The New York Times reported that the service, along with its accompanying software, faces discontinuation on September 30.
The company published a statement on AOL's website Friday declaring that "AOL routinely evaluates its products and services and has decided to discontinue Dial-up internet." Yahoo, AOL's parent company, declined to disclose statistics regarding current dial-up subscription numbers.
The service launched in 1991, coinciding with the growing popularity of home computers across American households. AOL's distinctive dial-up connection tone, often accompanied by the famous "You've got mail!" notification, became the auditory signature of internet exploration for countless Americans discovering online navigation.
US Census data from 2019 indicated that approximately 265,000 Americans relied exclusively on dial-up internet connections. This figure represented roughly 2% of households surveyed regarding their internet subscription preferences.
