AOL (originally America Online) was an online service provider based in Vienna, Virginia, USA.
History[]
AOL began as the personal edition of the AppleLink online service, contracted by Apple Computer to Quantum Computer Services, the operators of Quantum Link. It was launched at AppleFest in Boston on May 20, 1988. After the two companies split over disagreements, Quantum renamed itself and the service to America Online in 1991. Apple launched eWorld in 1994 to compete with America Online, but its online service quickly failed.[1]
AOL became the largest and fastest growing provider of online services in the world, with the most active subscriber base. AOL offered its three million subscribers electronic mail, interactive newspapers and magazines, conferencing, software libraries, computing support, and online classes. In October 1994, AOL made FTP services available to its members and in May 1995, full Internet access including the web.[2]
However, AOL did not keep up with the rapid transition from dial-up Internet access to broadband services and has since been sold as a subsidiary of Yahoo!.[3]
References[]
- ↑ Today in Apple history: AppleLink Personal Edition is the precursor to AOL by Luke Dormehl, Bult of Mac. 2021-05-20.
- ↑ AOL at the Free On-Line Dictionary Of Computing. 1997-08-26.
- ↑ Yahoo is Yahoo once more after new owners complete acquisition by Jon Porter, The Verge. 2021-09-02.
External links[]
- AOL official website
- AOL: News Email Weather Video at the Apple App Store
- AOL at the America Online Wikia
- AOL at Wikipedia
