AOL is ending its dial-up service, disconnecting from the 1990s' internet era
"AOL routinely evaluates its products and services and has decided to discontinue Dial-up Internet," the company said in a statement on Friday.
AOL said it will discontinue its dial-up service and "associated software" on Sept. 30.
About 163,000 households had dial-up as of 2023, according to U.S. Census Bureau data.
While only a small number of Americans still use the service, many will remember the screech-filled dial-up tone used to connect to the internet in the 1990s, followed by AOL's familiar "You've Got Mail" greeting.
In the 1998 movie "You've Got Mail," actors Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan strike up a romantic relationship after exchanging messages on AOL's platform.
Yahoo, which owns AOL, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
AOL rose in popularity in the 1990s, giving Americans an entry point to the online world through instant messaging and email features. Originally known as America Online, the company changed its name to AOL in 2006.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
USA Today
43 minutes ago
- USA Today
'Freakier Friday' and the awkward joy of reliving your teen years
'Freakier Friday' is just one dot in a growing constellation of films urging viewers to relive their teen years. Is it worth taking the bait? Pull together a focus group of average Americans, and the likelihood that a sizable portion would want to relive their teenage years seems pretty slim. Cystic acne. Braces. A curfew. What's to miss? Recently, however, Hollywood executives seem to be wagering that − unwieldy hormones and stubborn body odor aside − there must be something. Joining the din of already raucous sequel-mania, studios have offered audiences revival after revival aimed at capturing coming-of-age nostalgia. With a "Clueless" series in the works, an impending third installment of the "Legally Blonde" franchise, and an ill-fated "She's All That" remake on Netflix, fans can feast at a buffet of late-'90s and Y2K culture remixed for the modern age. (See also: the new "I Know What You Did Last Summer" and "Final Destination Bloodlines.") Nowhere is that nostalgia more present though than in the latest movie to add its name to the canon: "Freakier Friday." Join our Watch Party! Sign up to receive USA TODAY's movie and TV recommendations right in your inbox A follow-up to the 2003 classic "Freaky Friday," the film (in theaters now) brings back stars Jamie Lee Curtis, 66, and Lindsay Lohan, 39, for more body swap humor, this time as a mother and grandmother to a new rebellious teen. Lohan's appearance alone offers a bout of nostalgia, returning a familiar face to screens after the one-time teen sensation stepped away from moviemaking for an extended period. She, like Curtis, has still got it – hitting her slapstick comedy marks with precision, even if the film falls a bit short of the magic of the original. Watching her revive a role once defined by recklessness and angst, now as a stable, family-oriented adult, feels not only meta to Lohan's own story but may offer a clue to the chord Hollywood is hoping to strike. Reliving your teens from the safety of adulthood is the perfect voyeuristic formula. Like romanticizing a relationship after a breakup, your brain can easily paper over the worst parts, cunningly convincing you it's something worth revisiting. While "Freakier Friday," is certainly fine viewing for a 15-year-old, the audiences likely flocking to theaters are those for whom the original had meaning. Maybe people closer to Lohan's age, with families or careers of their own, hoping for a hit of reminiscence, without any of the mess that accompanies actually coming of age. "Freakier Friday" offered viewers a pretty decent bargain. The movie dipped into some of the nostalgia of the original – with a Chad Michael Murray appearance and a musical performance by Lohan – but didn't belabor the inside jokes. Box-office numbers are promising, too, with the movie raking in $29 million in North America for opening weekend. Whether other revivals can stick the landing remains to be seen. "He's All That," which paired an influencer-heavy cast with a sloppy remix of the plot, is certainly a cautionary tale. When you pick back up a once-beloved item, you always run the risk of it not fitting the same − finding, for instance, that dress should never have been layered over those low-rise jeans. Even in 2003.
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
Jenna Ortega Puts a Surreal Spin on Gothic Fashion in This Acid-Green Top
"Hearst Magazines and Yahoo may earn commission or revenue on some items through these links." Jenna Ortega may have an unshakable devotion to the dark side of the color wheel, but every so often, the actor likes to flirt—just slightly—with something a little brighter. Her latest sartorial experiment was in Seoul, South Korea, where the Wednesday star stepped out in Simone Rocha for a press conference about the Netflix show's second season. At the event, Ortega wove an unexpected green scheme into her Gothic repertoire. Styled by Enrique Melendez, she donned a look from Rocha's spring 2025 ready-to-wear collection, created in collaboration with Irish painter Genieve Figgis. Her long-sleeve green bodysuit is framed with a rounded neckline. It has a haunting Figgis artwork at the center of a ghoulish figure, teeth bared in shades of acid green. The loud top was grounded with a black tweed-and-tulle tiered skirt. She topped off her ensemble with a pair of sleek Mary Jane pumps and black opaque tights that brought a touch of vintage schoolgirl charm. Minimalist accessories, such as a slim choker and delicate silver rings, gave the outfit an extra layer of dimension. Hair stylist Cesar Deleon Ramirez channeled Y2K punk for the actor's updo in typical Wednesday Addams fashion. Of course, Ortega's bleached brows added another layer of angsty edge, with makeup artist Mélanie Inglessis balancing the drama with a smoky eye shadow and a muted lip. Ortega has been on quite the fashion run as of late while promoting her Netflix series. Most recently, she stepped onto the carpet at the Paris Theater in New York City wearing a jet-black gothic gown from the Ann Demeulemeester Fall 2025 collection. Prior to that, Ortega paraded around the city in a dramatic oversized blazer and skirt combo from Willy Chavarria. You Might Also Like 4 Investment-Worthy Skincare Finds From Sephora The 17 Best Retinol Creams Worth Adding to Your Skin Care Routine Solve the daily Crossword
Yahoo
3 hours ago
- Yahoo
Timothée Chalamet Did Not Attend Kylie Jenner's Birthday Dinner—Here's Why
"Hearst Magazines and Yahoo may earn commission or revenue on some items through these links." Kylie Jenner is celebrating her 28th birthday with a little help from her friends. On Sunday, August 10, the model and entrepreneur completed another trip around the sun—a milestone which she's been counting down to these past few days via a series of Instagram posts, from swimsuit selfies taken on her last days as a 27-year-old to vintage throwbacks from her childhood birthday parties (such Leo behavior.) But for the big day, the Khy founder was joined by loved ones for an intimate dinner, which was attended by family—like her sister Kendall Jenner—and friends, like Hailey and Justin Bieber. The meal was in fact hosted by the elder Jenner sister, who put together a picturesque setup on a scenic gravel patio. As seen in Kylie's Instagram Story, the tables were set up with white cloths and stacked with delicate china, summer vegetables, flowers in red and white, as well as corkscrew-style candles in shortbread yellow. The food was provided by chef Khristianne U, a detail that Kendall highlighted on her own Instagram Story. Kylie's cake was a tiered, raspberry-covered masterpiece adorned with white flowers and golden candles. In one video, the Kylie Cosmetics creator was seen blowing out her candles while wearing a striking birthday ensemble: an off-the-shoulder lacy black dress with floral embroidery and hip cutouts. In a different post, she also showed off the red bottoms of her black Christian Louboutins. Earlier in the day, Kylie had a mini celebration where she shared a candy-colored cake with her daughter, Stormi, 7, and—although not pictured—presumably her son, Aire, 3, as well. Notably missing from all the posts was Kylie's long-term boyfriend, Timothée Chalamet. However, the actor is currently filming the third installment of the Dune franchise in Budapest, Hungary, which could explain his absence from the party. You Might Also Like 4 Investment-Worthy Skincare Finds From Sephora The 17 Best Retinol Creams Worth Adding to Your Skin Care Routine Solve the daily Crossword
