AOL’s dial-up Internet service was a cornerstone of getting online in the ’90s, and while the majority of us don’t use it anymore, it’s still been happily chugging along in the background. Until now. AOL has just announced that it will be discontinuing the service.
“AOL routinely evaluates its products and services and has decided to discontinue Dial-up Internet. This service will no longer be available in AOL plans,” the company said in a statement. The service will officially be shuttered on Sept. 30, along with the AOL Dialer software and Shield browser. AOL noted that this change will not affect any other benefits in customers’ current plans.
AOL first launched the service in 1991, and it was incredibly popular until broadband technology became available in the 2000s. It even gained a foothold in pop culture, with its signature email voice alert serving as the foundation for the popular 1998 film You’ve Got Mail. So pour one out today for the end of an era.
