AOL to finally shut dial-up Internet services
(NEW YORK TIMES)AOL has announced that its dial-up internet service will finally be discontinued next month.The service, seen by many as a relic of the early days of the internet, will be discontinued on September 30 along with its associated software, the company said.AOL made the announcement quietly via a statement on its help portal Friday: "AOL routinely evaluates its products and services and has decided to discontinue dial-up internet.'In 2023, according to data from the US Census Bureau, an estimated 163,000 households in the United States were using only dial-up for internet service - representing just over 1% of the nation's household internet subscriptions.In the 1990s, AOL's dial-up tone was ubiquitous across households. And in 2000, America Online, as the company was known then, was the world's largest internet company.The service joins a growing list of early internet products to be retired in recent years. Microsoft discontinued Skype in May and Internet Explorer in 2022. AOL's own instant messaging service, AIM, was shut down in 2017.Dial-up internet speeds average about 56 kilobytes a second; modern connections in the United States are, on average, several thousand times faster.
In 2015, AOL's dial-up service had more than 2 million users, bringing in more than $40 million in revenue a month. AOL, which is owned by Yahoo, did not release information about how many people use its dial-up service now.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The National
2 days ago
- The National
What Kodak's woes can teach us about Big Tech, capitalism and brand resilience
, once among the most recognisable companies in the world, is blaming "misleading media reports" for causing concern after its second-quarter financial results. Although Kodak reported a gross profit of $51 million this week, the Rochester, New York-based company included a "concern assessment" that unnerved investors, employees and customers. The assessment warned various conditions "raise substantial doubt about the company's ability to continue". Kodak, which declared bankruptcy in 2012 and emerged in 2013, has tried to climb back to relevance amid a vastly changed photography, imaging and chemical market. It said reporters misinterpreted the company's disclosure. "Media reports that Kodak is ceasing operations, going out of business or filing for bankruptcy are inaccurate and reflect a fundamental misunderstanding of a recent technical disclosure the company made to the Security and Exchange Commission," read a statement posted to Kodak's LinkedIn page. Kurt Jaeckel, a senior communications director with Kodak, told The National that the warning "is essentially a required disclosure because Kodak's debt comes due within 12 months of the filing". Mr Jaeckel said the 133-year-old company is confident it will be able to pay its debts by using $300 million from "the reversion and settlement" of Kodak's pension fund. Yet Art Hogan, chief market strategist at B Riley Wealth in Boston, told The National that despite Kodak recently suggesting otherwise, the company's future is still very much in doubt. "Any time you ever hear a company say there are questions about continuing to be an ongoing entity, it's almost a known quantity, it's theta-complete," he said. Mr Hogan said that Kodak – which at its peak employed more than 140,000 workers, but now employs about 3,400 – is struggling to recover from its failure to adapt to digital photography, the decline of film and other market factors. Despite emerging from bankruptcy protection in 2013 and turning to commercial print, advanced materials and chemicals, the company's earnings and overall financial reality leave a lot to be desired. "When your debts and liabilities are going to be larger than the other side of your balance sheet, that's when you sort of turn the lights out and close the doors," Mr Hogan said. Teachable moment for Big Tech? The story of Kodak's rise and fall are almost cliched at this point. The firm's domination of consumer photography through film and camera products, but inability to adjust to digital photography are well documented, although as Mr Hogan says, superficially researched to some extent. In 1975, a Kodak employee by the name of Steven Sasson invented what many to be the first digital camera. Although bulky and initially impractical, the technology showed promise, but Kodak failed to see a future in which digital cameras would destroy the profitable film industry it dominated. It shelved Mr Sasson's digital camera project, and sealed the company's fate when digital cameras started to outsell film cameras. Yet what many often fail to factor in is that even if Kodak supported Mr Sasson's invention, smartphones – not necessarily digital cameras – changed photography forever. As Mr Hogan says, sometimes the rules of economics and time make a company's demise inevitable. Nothing lasts forever. "Going from the top of the leaderboard to being shown the door is something that inevitably happens," he said, adding that if competition and market forces do not cause company dominance to erode, sometimes government regulators step in and break up that dominance. "It's the evolution of capitalism and it's just how things work." He said that even companies like Nvidia, which is experiencing unprecedented success, inevitably falter, and there is not one single moment it can be pegged to. Much like Nvidia, Kodak was once considered an invincible darling of S&P 500. Its stock price, as of the writing of this article, hovers at $5 a share. Mr Hogan also said that although there are optimists who try to compare Kodak's recent struggles to that of Apple, which was nearing irrelevance in the mid-1990s only to come roaring back, those comparisons are ill-conceived. Apple's struggles occurred while the computer industry was still finding its footing and the company was relatively young, whereas Kodak was already past its prime when its downfall began. "It's clearly a fallen angel that's not coming back," Mr Hogan said. Kodak's brand remains strong despite struggles Although Kodak has financially meandered for more than a decade, at this point, the company's logo and name still carry weight. Throughout many parts of the world, and particularly in the Middle East, Kodak signs remain prominent outside print and photo shops. Timothy Kneeland, a professor of history, politics and law at Nazareth University in western New York, said that the company's contributions to chemical and photography breakthroughs helped to give the US brand unprecedented recognition. "Overseas, Kodak is loved," he said. "You can still see retail stores with Kodak branding and merchandise." Prof Kneeland also said when Kodak was ascending to its peak of influence, the company made it a priority to send representatives overseas to promote its film, lenses and cameras, giving the brand a significant advantage over competitors. "Kodak became the standard for film," he said, adding that the company's prolific TV advertisements boasting of capturing "Kodak moments" with cameras, made it a household name for billions. Robert Thompson, a professor of pop culture, television, radio and film at Syracuse University 's Newhouse School of Public Communications, said that in the 1960s, '70s and '80s, Kodak's products and advertising worked so well that the brand almost took on a generic quality, similar to how people refer to tissues as Kleenex or adhesive bandages as Band-Aids. "Their advertising essentially taught people how to use what was once just an emerging technology of photography," he explained. Prof Thompson said Kodak's advertising messages were easily transferable to other parts of the world. He said the now beleaguered company but resilient brand and logo offer a lesson to others at the centre of the current artificial intelligence boom, such as OpenAI and Anthropic. "They turned photography into something that was part of the daily activities of a huge portion of the population," Prof Thompson said. "AI is obviously a big deal too, but Kodak is admirable because it took technology and turned it into an aspirational product enjoyed by billions."
Khaleej Times
3 days ago
- Khaleej Times
Economic cooperation: Pakistan-UAE ties enter new era with $10 billion investment
Pakistan and the UAE have ushered in new era of robust economic cooperation after the signing of more than 30 Memorandum of Understandings (MoUs) and Identity Governance and Administrations (IGAs) in past three years, a top diplomat says. Faisal Niaz Tirmizi, Ambassador of Pakistan to the UAE, said these agreements cover key sectors such as port operations, food security, logistics, banking and minerals. 'These agreements underscore the strategic depth and direction of our economic partnership. With trade volume surpassing $10 billion and growing mutual interest in ports and infrastructure sectors, we are clearly entering a new era of robust economic cooperation,' Tirmizi told Khaleej Times during an interview. He said the UAE has long been one of the key trading partners of Pakistan and the outlook for UAE-Pakistan trade and investment remains highly promising. The UAE is Pakistan's largest trading partner in the Middle East and third largest globally. 'We are actively following up with Abu Dhabi Ports (AD Ports) regarding implementation of MoUs signed with Pakistan under the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC) platform. We are also engaging with DP World for implementation of MoUs/IGAs pertaining to Karachi-Pipri DFC and development of economic zone. Both sides are determined to fast-track the implementation of these MoUs for mutual gain,' the ambassador said. More Deals on Cards Regarding more agreements are in the pipeline, he said: 'Yes, several MoUs are being actively considered in the fields of halal meat trade, artificial intelligence, science and technology and culture.' About the agreement on mutual exemption of entry visa requirements, the ambassador termed this a good initiative that will help facilitate the movement of official delegations and ultimately strengthen bilateral ties. 'Yes, this is a significant development. The MoU on mutual exemption of visas for diplomatic and official passport holders will enhance institutional cooperation between our two countries. It reflects the trust and strategic alignment at the highest levels of leadership. We expect the MoU will facilitate the movement of official delegations and result in further strengthening of our bilateral relations,' he said. To a question about the initiatives to promote cooperation in renewable energy, infrastructure development, hospitality, and tourism, he said these are priority areas and both sides are keen to strengthen their relationship in key sectors. 'We have made significant strides. In renewable energy, the visit of Dr Sultan Al Jaber to Pakistan led to the signing of an MoU for cooperation in clean energy, with a focus on solar and wind. On infrastructure, DP World and AD Ports Group have collaborated with our government on port modernisation and logistics development. 'In tourism, we resumed PIA's direct flights from Dubai to Skardu, a key step in promoting Pakistan as a destination for adventure and eco-tourism. These initiatives reflect our commitment to broadening the scope of bilateral cooperation,' he said. $10 Billion Investment Tirmizi said the announcement by the UAE of a $10 billion investment is a strong testament to the confidence in Pakistan's future. Since then, both sides have been working to identify bankable, high-impact projects in minerals, IT, banking, railway, Special Economic Zones, ports operations and logistics. 'Our coordination with the UAE Ministry of Investment under the SIFC framework is ongoing. Several of these proposals are under active evaluation, and we are hopeful that 2025 will see concrete progress.' To a question, he said negotiations on Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (Cepa) have progressed well. 'Both sides are fully committed to concluding the agreement. Once the Cepa is signed, I am confident that it will unlock new avenues for trade and investment partnerships between Pakistan and the UAE,' the ambassador said. Progress on GCC FTA In reply to a question about the prospects for the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with the Gulf nations, he said the GCC-Pakistan FTA is progressing positively. 'A preliminary agreement was signed in 2023, and subsequent rounds of negotiation ongoing. Once implemented, it will significantly boost Pakistan's trade with GCC,' he said. 'This will offer promising prospects for forging a robust economic partnership capable of unlocking significant opportunities for both Pakistan and the GCC.' Elaborating, he said GCC countries import food textile and other manufactured goods, offering vast opportunities for Pakistan's agriculture and food-processing sectors besides textiles and apparels. 'The GCC-Pakistan FTA will reduce customs duties on goods and services while the cooperation chapters will include energy, health, food security, agriculture, transport, environment, culture, and education,' he said. Scope for Skilled Workforce Tirmizi said the UAE is no longer a market for unskilled workers and Pakistanis should do their research before coming to the emirate. 'It's true that the UAE job market has evolved. There is now a strong demand for professionals in fields like IT, AI, fintech, healthcare, aviation and engineering. My advice to job seekers is clear: > Avoid traveling on a tourist visa to search for jobs. > Instead, apply through proper employment channels. > Enhance your skills, learn English, get certified, and acquire specialised > training. > Verify job offers through the Bureau of Emigration or our missions. > Understand UAE laws and cultural norms. 'We do run awareness campaigns and advise our community from time to time. We have recently developed a 14-minute comprehensive tutorial video to guide potential migrants. It's available on our Embassy's official Facebook page and provides practical, detailed instructions for safe and legal migration,' Tirmizi concluded. NEW INITIATIVES LAUNCHED New initiatives and reforms launched to facilitate visitors and applicants visiting the Embassy and the Consulate: · A one-window operation in the passport section · Same-day processing of attested documents (within an hour) · Online appointment booking via Nadra. · WhatsApp support line for prompt responses · Home delivery of passports · 24/7 availability/ response for emergency services (e.g. Death cases NoC/ Out pass) · And importantly, renovation of Dubai consulate building to improve comfort, capacity, and overall service quality. 'Our missions have undertaken significant improvements in recent months. We have introduced a new token system for document processing, created a dedicated WhatsApp helpline and modernised our consular halls,' Tirmizi said. 'Passport and Nadra's online submission along with prior appointment system for visits, and home delivery service have helped reduce congestion. Moreover, we've plans for renovation of the consulate building in Dubai to better accommodate the growing number of visitors,' he said. HIGH POTENTIAL SECTORS Tirmizi sees strong potential in several emerging sectors such as shipping and logistics, banking and fintech, including Islamic finance and digital remittances, mining and rare minerals, where Pakistan has vast untapped reserves, pharmaceuticals and healthcare, railways and aviation. 'These are sectors where both countries possess complementary strengths, and we're actively working to channel this synergy into tangible partnerships,' he said, and adding that the following sectors can attract investment in Pakistan by showcasing their real potential to the UAE. · Healthcare and Pharmaceuticals · Surgical Instruments · Export of skilled HR (especially in healthcare, finance, technical, hospitality) · Mining and Minerals · Logistics and Transport Infrastructure · Real Estate and Urban Development · Manufacturing and Pakistan's Special Economic Zones · Environmental Services and climate change financing. INDEPENDENCE DAY MESSAGE On the auspicious occasion of Pakistan's Independence Day 2025, I extend my heartfelt congratulations to all Pakistanis, especially those residing in the UAE. Today, we celebrate the 78th anniversary of our beloved homeland's independence, a day that fills our hearts with immense pride and joy. As we commemorate this significant day, we pay the deepest tributes to the countless individuals who struggled for the creation of Pakistan. Their unwavering determination and sacrifices paved the way for realising the dream of a separate homeland where we can live in freedom and practice our beliefs. The value of independence is immeasurable, and it is our duty to honor the legacy of our forefathers by striving for a prosperous and united Pakistan. The year 2025 has been declared as the 'Year of the Community' by The UAE President, His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. It is heartening to note that the Pakistani community has risen to this call with great zeal and enthusiasm. I particularly commend the Pakistan Association Dubai (PAD) for organising the remarkable Health Festival in collaboration with the Consulate General of Pakistan in Dubai. This event not only showcased the community's commitment to health and well-being but also exemplified the spirit of solidarity and service. PAD with the support of the community, also made history by setting a new Guinness World Record through the creation of the largest UAE flag featuring the maximum number of human handprints — an outstanding gesture of love, unity, and coexistence. Another notable contribution during this special year came from Khan Zaman Khan Suroor, a distinguished member of the Pakistani community, who authored the insightful book titled 'Sheikh Zayed: Founder of the Nation.' His literary tribute to the founding father of the UAE is a remarkable gesture of respect and admiration. I also wish to extend my sincere appreciation to Emirates Loves Pakistan and the Pakistan Association Dubai for organising the grandest Independence Day celebrations at Expo City Dubai. Their efforts have not only elevated our national pride but also strengthened the bonds of friendship between Pakistan and the UAE. Living in the UAE, you represent Pakistan on foreign soil. I urge you to embody the values of positivity, hard work, and adherence to the laws of this great nation that has welcomed us with open arms. Remember, each one of you is an ambassador of Pakistan, and your conduct reflects on our country's image. Let us work together for the betterment of Pakistan and contribute positively to the societies we live in. On this joyous day, I also appeal to all Pakistani citizens to celebrate the day with care, caution, and responsibility. While we rejoice in our independence, it is crucial to avoid causing any disturbances on roads and streets. Let us ensure that our celebrations are respectful and considerate of the community around us.
Khaleej Times
3 days ago
- Khaleej Times
UAE: Disneyland Abu Dhabi expected to rise in North Yas, says expert
Disneyland Abu Dhabi is most likely to be built in North Yas, close to the Fahid Bridge, on one of the last remaining waterfront plots on the island, a leading real estate expert has said, while property prices on Yas Island have jumped by up to 20 per cent over the past year. Ben Crompton, Managing Partner at Crompton Partners, told Khaleej Times that while buyers are not yet paying a premium for a view of the upcoming theme park, demand for Yas Island homes surged immediately after the project was announced in May. 'The Disney theme park will most likely open in North Yas, close to the Fahid Bridge, but it hasn't been confirmed yet. We know it will be on the water and so this area is one of the few beach locations left on the popular island,' he said. The attraction, expected to open in the mid-2030s, is not yet influencing nightly rates or occupancy levels for short-term lets, such as Airbnb, in the area. Crompton said this market is likely to accelerate as the handover date approaches, with projects like Water's Edge already proving popular among short-term rental operators. Short-term lets in Abu Dhabi are regulated by the Department of Culture & Tourism, which requires property owners to obtain a licence. 'It is relatively straightforward and there are plenty of professional operators who can assist,' Crompton said. Currently, Water's Edge, Yas Acres, especially its new Magnolias and Dahlias projects, and Yas Golf Collection are attracting strong off-plan interest. Villas have outperformed apartments in the past year, with Aldar projects delivering the highest gains. 'In the last 12 months most projects on Yas Island saw 20 per cent returns. Villas did better than apartments, and Aldar projects did better than other developers,' he noted.
