You’ve got mail
You probably remember AOL’s trademark “you’ve got mail” chime every time you logged in to the service, but by now that is a distant memory. After all, the Internet has expanded in size and speed since then. No more waiting patiently for someone to get off the phone so you can use the Internet.
You may still use the instant messenger, but did you know that 2.4 million people still pay AOL for Internet service? With so many Internet options on the market it is hard to believe that anyone would choose AOL. It seems a bit outdated, but apparently it is still alive and kicking.
The primary reason many people choose AOL is dialup access. There are still many regions where broadband is not an option, so choosing this service for $7/month gives users unlimited dialup access, which you can understand.
However, the real puzzle comes when you learn people are still paying AOL for other Internet services; such as, broadband access and email. AOL email is free, but maybe some people are not aware of this. Others still like the familiarity of logging in to the AOL desktop application, where they receive their news and weather. Again, this is not something you need to pay for: it is all accessible on the free AOL homepage.
AOL raked in the cash last quarter
According to their latest financial reports, AOL made $196.1 million, down from $2.54 million in the second quarter of last year, but still showing an overall financial growth.
If you are one of the many AOL users, you may want to change your passwords and security questions, as AOL recently experienced a security breach; no personal information was leaked, including payment information, only your address book and email signature were compromised. It resulted in many of your address book contact’s receiving spam email containing fictitious information with your email address. Otherwise the service is fine for those who enjoy it, but you may still want to look into more effective alternatives.
