AOL to discontinue dial-up internet

#1

Post by situationista » Mon, Aug 11, 2025, 7:15 AM UTC

AOL to discontinue dial-up internet
nytimes.com

Re: AOL to discontinue dial-up internet

#2

Post by hopelite » Mon, Aug 11, 2025, 2:14 PM UTC

I’ve always wondered about the remaining users of the dial-up service. Who are they and what is the use case for using dial-up?

Does anyone know?

Re: AOL to discontinue dial-up internet

#3

Post by jonathaneunice » Mon, Aug 11, 2025, 2:14 PM UTC

TIL AOL still offered dial-up internet.

At long last, the 1990s will soon come to an end.

Re: AOL to discontinue dial-up internet

#4

Post by trimbo » Mon, Aug 11, 2025, 2:14 PM UTC

Real miss by the NYT here in not finding and interviewing people who were still using it in 2025!

Re: AOL to discontinue dial-up internet

#5

Post by imzadi » Mon, Aug 11, 2025, 2:15 PM UTC

hopelite wrote: post #2

I’ve always wondered about the remaining users of the dial-up service. Who are they and what is the use case for using dial-up? Does anyone know?

Probably people in rural areas that have limited access to other options. Starlink has probably absorbed most of that market, so no need to have dial up anymore.

Re: AOL to discontinue dial-up internet

#6

Post by dfedbeef » Mon, Aug 11, 2025, 2:17 PM UTC

jonathaneunice wrote: post #3

TIL AOL still offered dial-up internet. At long last, the 1990s will soon come to an end.

TIL AOL still exists

Re: AOL to discontinue dial-up internet

#7

Post by johnwheeler » Mon, Aug 11, 2025, 2:18 PM UTC

hopelite wrote: post #2

I’ve always wondered about the remaining users of the dial-up service. Who are they and what is the use case for using dial-up? Does anyone know?

Senior citizens who don’t know any better and never upgraded.then in their 50s now in their 70-80s.

Re: AOL to discontinue dial-up internet

#8

Post by layer8 » Mon, Aug 11, 2025, 2:21 PM UTC

Previous discussion two days ago, 101 comments: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=44843369

Re: AOL to discontinue dial-up internet

#9

Post by scarface_74 » Mon, Aug 11, 2025, 2:23 PM UTC

hopelite wrote: post #2

I’ve always wondered about the remaining users of the dial-up service. Who are they and what is the use case for using dial-up? Does anyone know?

It couldn’t be too many people. Back in 2015, they only had 2.1 million dial up users and that number must have gone down in a decade

https://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/2025/08/10/aol-dial-up-i...

But then again, I would love to have a business that has 2.1 million people or even 100 thousand people paying $10 a month…

Re: AOL to discontinue dial-up internet

#10

Post by robertoandred » Mon, Aug 11, 2025, 2:25 PM UTC

imzadi wrote: post #5

hopelite wrote: post #2

I’ve always wondered about the remaining users of the dial-up service. Who are they and what is the use case for using dial-up? Does anyone know?

Probably people in rural areas that have limited access to other options. Starlink has probably absorbed most of that market, so no need to have dial up anymore.

Starlink is so much more expensive though, more than a lot of people in rural areas can afford.