AOL pulling the plug on its dial-up service

The end of an internet era is near. AOL announced it will discontinue its dial-up internet service and the software designed for it on Sept. 30, marking the final chapter for a once-dominant way to get online.

The company said the decision followed a routine evaluation of its products and services.

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In the 1990s and early 2000s, AOL was synonymous with going online — thanks in part to millions of free trial CDs mailed to homes across the country.

Over the decades, most Americans have moved to faster, more reliable connections. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, more than 100 million households now have broadband service, such as cable, fiber optic or DSL. Another 10 million use satellite or another type of service.

Just 163,401 households reported using dial-up, the most recent Census data show. AOL did not say how many users still used its dial-up service.

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