Thought Leadership
The legendary modem sound is coming to an end. AOL is discontinuing its dial-up service at the end of September, and with it, a piece of Internet history disappears.
Once upon a time, the characteristic squeaking, beeping, and hissing captivated an entire generation of Internet pioneers. This acoustic ritual of connecting to the Internet is now becoming history: on September 30, 2025, AOL will finally pull the plug on its dial-up service, which has provided millions with access to the World Wide Web since 1991.
A brief farewell to old technology
AOL, now operating under the Yahoo umbrella, has handled the announcement with characteristic brevity. In a concise 100-word statement on its help page, the company announced the service’s end, stating simply: “AOL routinely evaluates its products.”
The shutdown affects more than just the dial-up connections themselves. Associated software will also be discontinued, including the AOL Dialer—essential for establishing connections—and surprisingly, the AOL Shield Browser. The latter was specially developed for weaker systems and slower connections, serving users who needed optimized performance.
A quarter of a million users are still connected.
Despite the march of broadband technology, approximately 250,000 Americans still rely on dial-up connections, according to US Census data. For some residents in remote areas, dial-up remains their only viable Internet option.
