About Time: AOL Goes Free
from the last-walls-come-tumbling-down dept
After much speculation, AOL announced today that it would finally bite the bullet, and become a free portal, complete with free AOL email addresses for anyone who wants one. The company says it now wants to exploit the "explosive rise in broadband usage and online advertising", though, of course, it's already missed out on much of the explosion. At least now the company can be meaningfully compared to competitors, and those on the inside can get better measures of their success. As for marrying content with distribution, the initial goal of the AOL-Time Warner merger, there they still have some work to do.
Reader Comments (rss)
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by Anonymous Coward on Aug 2nd, 2006 @ 10:23am
"complete with free AOL email addresses for anyone who wants one."
Now *that*'s prestige.
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by Whatever he said on Aug 2nd, 2006 @ 10:31am
WOW, what will they think of next?
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Better Late... by NSMike on Aug 2nd, 2006 @ 10:31am
...Than Never doesn't really apply here. I have no impetus to use their portal.
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And I bet... by Sanguine Dream on Aug 2nd, 2006 @ 10:33am
they still give you a hassle and the run around when you try to cancel your account.
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Use a spellchecker! by DittoBox on Aug 2nd, 2006 @ 10:40am
"bight the bullet"
Shouldn't that "bite the bullet"?
http://dictionary.reference.com/search?q=bight
http://dictionary.reference.com/search?q =bite
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Re: Use a spellchecker! by Anonymous Coward on Aug 2nd, 2006 @ 10:43am
this is news is so good, there is no time to run spell check, just post it and let the world know
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by Anonymous Coward on Aug 2nd, 2006 @ 10:49am
I remember in elementry and middle school, having an AOL account was access to being cool
I couldn't wait to have an AOL account so I was even willing to have one for just the free trial period. But every time I tried to cancel they extended the free period for another 30-45 days. I had free AOL for 1.5 years!!! I would always say I did not have time try their product. Even thought I was always on, and they had access to how many hours I used.
Now I have dsl for 14.95, beat that AOL
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Prestigous Email Address by Ross on Aug 2nd, 2006 @ 10:49am
Good call Anonymous Coward - nothing says prestige or cutting edge technology than someone with an aol account. For personal stuff - you know, that's personal preference. But when I get a business related email from an aol account, my spider-sense starts tingling.
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by fuzzmanmatt on Aug 2nd, 2006 @ 11:00am
Does this mean that my friends mom, who is paying for AOL for Broadband, can cancel her account and still receive all the benefits of paying $15 a month? Because I know they aren't going to cancel it for her.
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Re: Use a spellchecker! by Joe on Aug 2nd, 2006 @ 11:22am
thanks, fixed
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Re: Use a spellchecker! by DittoBox_SpellingNazi on Aug 2nd, 2006 @ 11:40am
DittoBox, dude take a pill, spelling went out with paying for AOL, or didn't you get the memo?
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Re: Re: Use a spellchecker! by Anonymous Coward on Aug 2nd, 2006 @ 11:44am
Yeah, and don't forget to capitalize the first word of your sentances, either.
You loose at grammer perfection, lol.
A period at the end of the sentance would have completed the sentance, properly; as well.
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AOL e-mail by Anonymous Coward on Aug 2nd, 2006 @ 11:46am
During a job fair we filtered out IT workers that listed an AOL e-mail address on their resume.
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Re: Re: Re: Use a spellchecker! by Anonymous Coward on Aug 2nd, 2006 @ 11:53am
Even if you were trying to be funny, spelling "sentence" as "sentance" made me want to punch something.
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Awww... by Matt on Aug 2nd, 2006 @ 11:55am
So does this mean that they stop putting out those really cool trial cd's ?!?!?!
What a lame move by AOL. Just throwing in the towel
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Another instance by free, free, free on Aug 2nd, 2006 @ 11:57am
Tech Dirt loves free stuff, just another instance. Not commenting on the specifics of this deal. Any free business model seems to be a good one to Tech Dirt. Somebody give the writters more money please. On the otherhand, a better business model is to have writers write for free.
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by Anonymous Coward on Aug 2nd, 2006 @ 11:59am
so if i'm paying for AOL now, how do I stopped getting charged for it?
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by Anonymous Coward on Aug 2nd, 2006 @ 11:59am
oops I meant how do I stop getting charged for it...
dumb AOL user.
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still on dial up by william on Aug 2nd, 2006 @ 12:04pm
I've still got AOL dial up at home ( I live in the country ) and it is torture. I almost love going to work for the T1 line they have. But I still only use my GMAIL account and Firefox for internet, there services sucks. And they have spyware/virus scanner that manages to pop up on the bottom right corner of my screen and crash DOOM3/Half Life 2 whenever i play.
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Re: AOL e-mail by Alan on Aug 2nd, 2006 @ 12:08pm
Isn't that a form of racism....
No AOL users here!
lol.
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by Anonymous Coward on Aug 2nd, 2006 @ 12:13pm
Finally ... It's worth the price of admission !
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Re: Re: AOL e-mail by sirjavabean on Aug 2nd, 2006 @ 12:20pm
"Isn't that a form of racism....
No AOL users here!
lol."
If only AOL users could be called a race... Perhaps if they had any brain cells we'd be able to one day lol.
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But are they really going free? by Joe on Aug 2nd, 2006 @ 12:22pm
I predict that existing accounts will still be charged to no end, cancellation horrors and all.
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Re: Re: Re: Re: Use a spellchecker! by Lay Person on Aug 2nd, 2006 @ 12:33pm
Crap!
If we are going to read published material, it might be a good idea to use standardized spelling and grammer. Not because it's important to follow rules but because it's easier to read. Plays on words (spelling/grammer) may cause the reader to think of things that weren't intended. It's just distracting.
Leave intriguing use of words and grammer to poets, not to someone trying to communicate something to a wide audience. Including people to whom English may not be their first language.
Anyway, there are rules so that we agree as to what is being said. Granted, it's quite clear here that it's just a mistake and may be overlooked but clearly some people have pent up aggression.
Can you imagine programming code with a misplaced period? It can make or break the code. Humans, though are a bit smarter and are able to deduce the meaning at times.
Man!...way off topic.
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Re: by Anonymous Coward on Aug 2nd, 2006 @ 12:34pm
"I remember in elementry and middle school, having an AOL account was access to being cool "
lol...I remember in middle school when we didn't have computers :D
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Oh yeah... by Lay Person on Aug 2nd, 2006 @ 12:37pm
Oh yeah,
AOL sucks! It's always sucked. It sucked when it was $25.00 and it sucks when it's free!
There are way better services out there that don't inundate your computer with crap either.
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by Anonymous Coward on Aug 2nd, 2006 @ 12:39pm
I think some of you guys are missing the point. The only way you can stop paying for AOL service is if you have a separate ISP. AOL will offer stuff like email and various web content for free, but the actual dial-up or broadband connection will never be free. For someone using AOL Broadband, you could probably keep your same email address and whatnot, but to stop paying for the connection itself, you'd have to start paying another ISP. There is a difference between the Internet and the World Wide Web. The WWW is the content, whereas the Internet is the medium used to access it. The WWW may become free mostly, but the Internet will never be free. It's a utility, just like electricity and water, and nobody will ever be able to offer it for free, unless of course the entire concept of money and personal profit is eliminated from this world.
As for AOL itself, I agree that "better late than never" statement doesn't apply here. It's more like "too little too late." AOL has ripped people off for way too long and it needs to die.
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by laughingontheinside on Aug 2nd, 2006 @ 12:39pm
i had free AOL for about 1.5 yrs . . . i started with a 6 mos free trial. each time i called to cancel, they asked me why and i said, "AOL is too expensive for me. i can't afford it" and each time the rep extended my free trial another 3 mos! =P
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Re: by Lay Person on Aug 2nd, 2006 @ 12:41pm
So where exactly do all those tubes come into play?
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by Anonymous Coward on Aug 2nd, 2006 @ 12:41pm
could someone just answer my question?
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rofl by James B on Aug 2nd, 2006 @ 12:46pm
For all you spelling junkies who keep giving everyone shit, it's
grammar, not grammer... It's really amusing to watch people criticize other's for spelling, when them themselves cannot spell or use proper grammar. Get a life guys.. Free email accounts are something of the past and will continue to be free. This is an interesting article though, nice to see AOL opening up there service a little. It is the users fault for paying the ridiculous ammounts of money for the service.
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#30 answer by Lay Person on Aug 2nd, 2006 @ 12:47pm
Look, #27 already answered it.
You either need to stop paying AOL and get another ISP (Internet Service Provider) or continue using AOL.
There aren't two ways about it. You are not going to get connected to the internet for free.
AOL services are free...not the CONNECTION.
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by Anonymous Coward on Aug 2nd, 2006 @ 12:48pm
Oops, sorry I'm on the wrong post, I was attempting to comment on AOL, but I see this is a grammar police comment board.
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Re: rofl by laughingontheinside on Aug 2nd, 2006 @ 12:52pm
james b., do you know what else is amusing? watching you spell "others" as "other's" -- with an extra apostrophe ;-)
but PLEASE, can we get back to talking about AOL?
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Re: Re: Re: Use a spellchecker! by Your Mom on Aug 2nd, 2006 @ 12:52pm
that's "grammar" you knob.
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Re: rofl by Lay Person on Aug 2nd, 2006 @ 12:53pm
"when them themselves cannot..."
Shouldn't that be "...they themselves...?"
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by Anonymous Coward on Aug 2nd, 2006 @ 12:57pm
who you callin a knob?
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i can remember by kantankerus on Aug 2nd, 2006 @ 12:58pm
aol, compuserve and GEnie fighting and 300 baud modems...i was married and a father when i bought my first computer...a Timex/Sinclair 1000, at a drug store..and also "computerized" the local government i worked for, using a commdore 64 and Atari XL's...i skipped over Apple altogether and have never regretted it..aol was a big time saver back then..things change...and thanks for prompting me to walk down memory lane....oh, for the simpler times....lol
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Who cares! by Lay Person on Aug 2nd, 2006 @ 1:06pm
Grammur
Grammoor
Grammer
Grammir
You see world, I really am an idiot. I have something to say but lack the skill to say it!
I'm hooping you take this Ceriously cuz I really know what I'm saying but I just can't muster up enough komunication skills. Really I'm smart and have soemthing valuable to offer but you aren't taking me saeriously...why?
I hop my shortcomings don't distract frum the massage.
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Re: AOL e-mail by Anonymous Coward on Aug 2nd, 2006 @ 1:27pm
how would that improve the results of the remaining candidates?
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Re: by Anonymous Coward on Aug 2nd, 2006 @ 1:29pm
i would try if i knew your question
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NO MORE FREE AOL CD’S!!!!!!!!!!! by techwolf on Aug 2nd, 2006 @ 1:29pm
Dang! (ok I have to be G rated on something) Now I won’t beable to finish my car covered on AOL CD’s
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Re: by Anonymous Coward on Aug 2nd, 2006 @ 1:30pm
fight! fight! fight!
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by anonymous coward on Aug 2nd, 2006 @ 1:38pm
cancel your $25/month AOL account, keep your AOL email address and AOL content, and move to PeoplePC.com for $10
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AOL is always AOL by Whatever he said on Aug 2nd, 2006 @ 1:43pm
From AOL 1.0 to today, they haven't changed their billing policies a lick. I was my first account, and I have a similar story to everyone else's.
AOL addresses have zero credibility, we advise all of our sales reps never to put one on a business card because it makes them look technically void.
I recently learned that a friend of mine still has one, which he carelessly mentioned at a party last week, and suddenly he was the butt of all the jokes for the rest of the night (crappy party).
If AOL wants to survive, they have a long way to go. The only folks using it seem to be grandparents and the technically void, both of which are dying out.
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Re: AOL is always AOL by Lay Person on Aug 2nd, 2006 @ 1:49pm
Dude, that's hilarious!
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Re: Re: Re: AOL e-mail by Anonymous Coward on Aug 2nd, 2006 @ 2:08pm
"If only AOL users could be called a race..."
Yeah, then we could have a genocide... Only a decade too late.
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by Anonymous Coward on Aug 2nd, 2006 @ 2:11pm
So what is good about AOL? There must be something... maybe its only the marketing department that is good?
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by laughingontheinside on Aug 2nd, 2006 @ 2:13pm
the only thing good about AOL is the fact that they've unknowningly contributed a heck of a lot of CDs to the CD curtain I'm building.
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Re: Re: by ed on Aug 2nd, 2006 @ 2:17pm
"lol...I remember in middle school when we didn't have computers :D"
Hmm, I've been using computer since grade 3 (although it's a vague memory, i know we had a lab at that particular school).
As for AOL, who really cares? I used AOL free trial CDs for archery practice. I almost used an AOL floppy (remember those?) years ago - the only thing that stopped me was at the time I didn't have a modem. When I first got one, I used sympatico dialup (for a few months then switched rogers cable). basically, I didn't get online until 98. haven't left my computer since :)
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Re: Re: Use a spellchecker! by DittoBox on Aug 2nd, 2006 @ 2:17pm
Ha, that's the best thing I've read today.
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by Anonymous Coward on Aug 2nd, 2006 @ 2:30pm
I HEARD THAT AOL CONTRIBUTES TO THE BUSH ADMINISTRATION... OKAY GEEKS, HAVE FUN WITH THAT ONE...
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cat like reflexes by bishop on Aug 2nd, 2006 @ 2:36pm
good job AOL on skyrocketing yourself into 2004!
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by LukeD on Aug 2nd, 2006 @ 3:06pm
AOL SUCKS!!!!!
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by Anonymous Coward on Aug 2nd, 2006 @ 3:15pm
Do they not know, that for years now, anyone can have a free aol account ?
All you had to do, was get AIM, and there was a link to get an aol email address.
I have never paid for AOL, or signed up for a free trial, yet have an aol email address and have had one for a long time.
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by Anonymous Coward on Aug 2nd, 2006 @ 3:30pm
BUT WHAT ABOUT AOL KILLING ALL THOSE WHALES LAST YEAR? THAT WAS FREE!!
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Not in complete defense of AOL but... by Tyshaun on Aug 2nd, 2006 @ 3:55pm
I never had AOL because I basically have been lucky enough to have access to cable/dsl since I graduated college. HOWEVER, for a lot of people, AOL was the internet for a long time. I remember when a lot of products didn't have websites per-se but AOL "keywords" (did they map to actual http: sites?).
My point is that we at techDirt represent the upper eschelon of computer users but I think sometimes we forget that for a long time AOL and the internet were one in the same to a lot of people. I finally broke the umbilical of my last friend using AOL last year, but it was a fight. AOL was easy for most people, they put it in the computer, plugged in a phone line in the back, and they were "surfing the web" (albeit they didn't know it was a watered dowm, slowed down version of the web).
Have sympathy on the AOL set, ignorance is bliss.
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by Anonymous Coward on Aug 2nd, 2006 @ 4:18pm
AOL KILLED MY PARENTS!! AND WHAT IS GEORGE BUSH DOING ABOUT IT? NOTHING!! MAYBE HE'LL CAUSE ANOTHER HURRICANE AND DESTROY ANOTHER CITY!!!
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by Anonymous Coward on Aug 2nd, 2006 @ 4:19pm
I bet AOL would do well if Tom Cruise endorsed it... afterall he can utilize his witch skills.
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by Amy Alkon on Aug 2nd, 2006 @ 5:41pm
Hmm, I think I'll follow AOL's lead and exploit the invention of the wheel.
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AOL disk ending?? by gary on Aug 2nd, 2006 @ 7:30pm
here in nebraska woever was contracted to make and distribute ther free trial disks were using CD-RW's for a while. Fooling around tried to erase one AND IT DID. Now I have a few hundred discs blank and looking if they start using DVD's soon
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Free AOL address...not thanks by Not Interested on Aug 2nd, 2006 @ 8:52pm
AOL email for free...hmmm. OK, good. Now all they have to do is get everyone in the world to use an aol email account so that no gets blocked. Stay away from AOL, 15 of my company's major clients will not correspond with vendors or AOL members because of AOL's consistent blocking of valid domains who are accused of spamming but do not spam in any way. Stay away, stay away....
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Re: Re: Re: Use a spellchecker! by Anonymous Coward on Aug 2nd, 2006 @ 9:26pm
Ok, now you get spammed for spelling "sentence" as sentance..... twice!
For shame!
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Interesting Timing by Aramen on Aug 2nd, 2006 @ 9:45pm
I just received one of those free trial CDs in the mail today.
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Re: rofl by Anonymous Coward on Aug 2nd, 2006 @ 10:17pm
...nice to see AOL opening up there service a little...
Um. Their vs. There, anyone?
Lets get ready to rummmbbbblllle!
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AOL by |333173|3|_||3 on Aug 2nd, 2006 @ 11:45pm
Years ago, someone I knew figured out how to crack the n months free trial that AOL gave out every n-1 months, so that once you installed a program, if you kept inserting the free trial AOL cds, you could get free access to the internet using IE/Navigator, without the AOL crap that would normally install. Running the AOL CDs throught he program gave access to the codes which AOL used to connect to them, but it also acted between the Browser and the modem, with a crack to access the whole internet properly. I might see if I can find a copy somewhere.
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AOL really going down now by mIKE on Aug 3rd, 2006 @ 2:16am
Half the reason why most users stayed with AOL is because they wanted to keep their email address. Now AOL is going to loose a bunch of customers.
The main question you have to ask yourself if you are using AOL is how many of the AOL services do you actually use and do you find it worth $10+ extra dollars per month for internet? Take a few hours and most everything that is on AOL you can find on the internet for free, not everything but most. I know there is some services on AOL that actually make it worth it but for most people that is not the case.
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What The AOL For? by Daddio on Aug 3rd, 2006 @ 2:22am
Why in the AOL would anyone want AOL? My parents had it on their PC when I first gve them one of my old ones. As soon as the disk went into the computer, they lost all control over anything that used to be default. AOL set up it's own defaults everywhere and my mom was so panicked that I had to go to Arizona from Colorado to "fix" the computer. I fixed it mby removing AOL and told them to never put it back in again. They still have dialup even though I offered to buy them 1.5 DSL and pay for COmpuServe because that was what they replaced the AOL with all those years ago and my mom is a brand loyalest who thinks that if she changes ISPs she'll have to learn everything all over again. SO why would anyone think free AOL is anything to get excited about?
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Re: Re: by Andy on Aug 3rd, 2006 @ 6:56am
Dude, he just way clogged up the tubes with that huge post. THE INTERNETS IS NOT A DUMP TRUCK MORON!!
Fo-real, when is Time Warner going to start regulating this shizzle?!?
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by ConceptJunkie on Aug 3rd, 2006 @ 7:52am
Daddio:
AOL has owned CompuServe for quite a while...
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by AOL-LMAO on Aug 3rd, 2006 @ 8:32am
who the hell cares about AOL?
I can't believe that shit is still around.
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Re: Re: Re: Use a spellchecker! by j.johnson on Aug 3rd, 2006 @ 8:34am
its actually "sentence" since you wanna check people on grammer
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by Anonymous Coward on Aug 3rd, 2006 @ 9:04am
j. johnson... what a dick... GRAMMAR and that is a spelling issue not a grammar issue, dick.
what about loose? it's LOSE, losers.
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Oh Horay free AOL by rich on Aug 3rd, 2006 @ 11:10am
Yes! AOL is FREE(sarcasm much) WOW i really could not care any less. They would still have to pay me to put there non-sence on my computer. that will probley be they next step in world dommination. this is only the beginning, you just wait till theres AOL 50.0 we will all be doomed!!
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Re: by hellsfury on Aug 4th, 2006 @ 12:50am
I couldn't agree more with everything you have said here. Except that I think AOL should have died years ago when they were still charging $25 for their crappy dial-up service; while all the other ISP's kept dropping their prices.
I think the only thing AOL has going for them right now is that fact that they now own Time Warner and the host of cable channels that came with Time Warner. I think they need to get out of the ISP business completely, as there are way too many companies out there with better service, prices, etc...
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The time has come by LionShooter on Aug 4th, 2006 @ 6:19am
I first connected to the internet in 1996 on my state of the art 486 with the largest hard drive available, 200 MB. It also came with a device called a modem, able to access other computers at a blazing speed of 2400 baud. Howevew, the only way to get to the web was through AOL or Compuserve. So I chose AOL, paid by the minute, and often had monthly bills over $100. I still have an AOL email address because that is the one everyone knows, but I access it through my ISP.
And hey all you techie youngsters, watch the grammar and spelling. I'm an English professor.
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Re: by Just A Guy on Aug 4th, 2006 @ 7:37am
Wrong. Netzero used to offer free internet, and Google is setting up free WANs in California. Advertising pays for it. predict the internet will be free eventually, with premium services for faster connection. Much like broadcast TV versus cable.
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clarification by Just A Guy on Aug 4th, 2006 @ 7:39am
That was meant for #27.
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by Anonymous Coward on Aug 4th, 2006 @ 12:53pm
AOL tried to murder me last night!!! someone help!!
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Re: Oh yeah... by anonymous on Aug 4th, 2006 @ 7:37pm
you suck dude,not aol.maybe your some cheap dumb person who still has to learn what a computer is.
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Re: by Justin on Aug 4th, 2006 @ 9:41pm
Keyword: Change Plan
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by roopa on Aug 5th, 2006 @ 8:21am
I think it's a good move. they have premier content available there. check it out and then do the bitching.
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by roopa on Aug 5th, 2006 @ 8:22am
i meant premium content daaamn - sorry
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There is a reason for AOL by Michael on Aug 5th, 2006 @ 10:01am
There are still plenty of reasons that people--including me--have kept AOL. The main one (already pointed out) is that I've had the same e-mail address for 14 years. I have shareware fonts (Lord of the Rings) that have been floating out on the 'net since being uploaded to AOL 13 years ago, and for which i still get regular props. (Some from kids that weren't even alive when they were released :-) Plus tons of friends who pop up every now and then in my inbox, and are pleasantly surprised when I reply to their e-mails.
Now that the service is free (I wonder if I can just still use the AOL client to check e-mail, etc?) I'll be cancelling the account. But AOL has been a definite benefit for me over the years.
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FREE AOL by kevin on Aug 11th, 2006 @ 11:51am
I ASK THEM ABOTU AOL, BEING FREE AND THE CATCH 22 IS:
THIS ONLY APPLY TO THE MEMBERS IN THE 50 STATES, (SORRY CANADA.......)
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What to do now by ISPDisk on Aug 12th, 2006 @ 6:22am
I collect and sell AOL DISK! Now what am I going to do? http://www.ispdisk.com
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Re: There is a reason for AOL by joe mama on Aug 13th, 2006 @ 10:05pm
You still have "aol friends"? That comment right there is pathetic. You're talking about cyberspace friends which are people that you will NEVER hang out with in REAL life. You really need to get out of the house more often, loser.
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Re: Re: Oh yeah... by joe mama on Aug 13th, 2006 @ 10:09pm
Maybe "YOUR" some dumb fuck? It's YOU'RE in that sentence, not YOUR. I love people who call other people dumb, but yet they can't even perform 3rd grade grammar.
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I LOVE AOL! by Misty on Aug 14th, 2006 @ 8:36pm
OK WHAT IS THE DEAL? TELL ME ONE THING AOL HAS DONE WRONG?? PEOPLE PC SUCKS!!!! THEY ARE RUDE...STUPID...AND DONT CARE WHAT YOU THINK OR WHAT YOU ARE HAVING PROBLEMS WITH! I HAVE HAD AOL FOR 7 YEARS...AND NEVER NOT EVEN ONE FREAKING TIME EVER HAD A PROB THAT WASNT TAKEN CARE OF RIGHT THEN! WITH THE UPMOST SWEETNESS AND CARING!
YOU CAN CALL DAY OR NIGHT...."IM" DAY OR NIGHT AND ALWAYS SPEAK WITH SOMEONE!
GEEZE IF YOU ARE THAT HARD UP AND CANT PAY FOR AOL......CALL THEM AND TELL THEM I PROMISE THEY WILL LOWER YOUR MO BILL!!
IT SEEMS TO ME LIKE YOU GUYS HAVE NO LIFE AND HAVE TO BE COMPLAINING ABOUT SOMETHING!
THEY RADIO IS AWESOME...I LISTEN EVERY SINGLE TIME I GET ONLINE!
EVERYTHING IS RIGHT AT YOUR FINGER TIPS...VERY EASY TO READ!! AOL MAKES IT RIGHT FOR ME AND YOU....YOU HAVE THE PROBLEM WRITE AOL!! SEE WHAT THEY HAVE TO SAY!
THANKS THE COOL ONE!
J007MYSTICWAVES@AOL.COM
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DON'T INSTALL AOL SOFTWARE ON YOUR COMPUTER by Dave on Aug 19th, 2006 @ 2:28pm
Who cares if it's free!! I downloaded the software, and now I have 10 AOL process's running even when aol is closed making it run like garbage. I tried to uninstall it and it just closes and freezes.
WHAT GARBAGE, Don't trust AOL, they are unethical assholes.
I remember back when I had AOL, they stuck a screen just before you signed off that asked you to register a 2nd account. They made the no thanks option tiny, and the Sign me up button huge. If you clicked on it by accident it automatically created a second account and they start billing you. No warnings, no emails, nothing; just a bill.
Seriously, who does that>? Why deal with a company like this? Get email @ hushmaill or hotmail, get everything else from yahoo & google.
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AOL going free by Tom on Aug 20th, 2006 @ 9:16am
I just stopped paying AOL after 10 years and who knows how many thousnd dollars. The major thing about this freebie is the lack of technical support that the Indian lady who took my changeover order kept emphasizing. It scares me because of AOL's sneaky habit of taking over one's computer for the new software that AOL keeps insisting that users must have. Like the fairly new "connectivity" stuff. If that muddles up my files and/or directories, who do I ask for assistance? AOL will tell me I ain't paying to use their service, so it is my problem, I bet. Does any consumer protection law come into play in such a case?
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by Anonymous Coward on Aug 22nd, 2006 @ 7:50pm
(Does this mean that my friends mom, who is paying for AOL for Broadband, can cancel her account and still receive all the benefits of paying $15 a month? Because I know they aren't going to cancel it for her.)
first AOL has no benifits....
second to the person with the comment in all CAPS...take the caps lock off.... that just gos to show that your only a 10year old kid who is disgruntled with the fact everyone has dsl or cable except you...go away
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by Shaol Temp on Aug 22nd, 2006 @ 11:12pm
Roadrunner baby!! No substitute!!
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by Shaol Temp on Aug 22nd, 2006 @ 11:12pm
Roadrunner baby!! No substitute!!
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Use Gmail, it's better then AOL by Aasi on Aug 30th, 2006 @ 11:51am
I just have to say that I've used AOL before....and I really don't like it. The only thing that's cool is that they have that unsend button to get rid of an email you sent to another aol accidentally and the status button to check if the other person who has aol checked their email or not.
But either way, Gmail is the best. Register at Gmail....even Yahoo is starting to get a bit cluttered - I've had Yahoo for years and it was my first email account back in 2000. Just get out of AOL folks! Don't use it anymore. Even if it's free. If you really want to use it, then get rid of the software. It takes up too much computer space. The only reason I can't take it off my computer is because of my uncle because he's used AOL since it first came out. We have DSL and wireless and he still wont go online without signing onto AOL. I keep explaining....but he doesnt listen. I don't know.......I don't like it.
Gmail is the best. No one will want a free AOL email account. Watch.....it's over for them now!
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by Haha on Sep 1st, 2006 @ 11:04am
I think you guys are absolutely hilarious, I would rather sit here and read your posts vs watching Jerry Springer, or, Bill Nye The Science Guy.
Btw, I'm a loser, broke as a joke so I have to dial up...
I called AOL to cancel today, and I couldn't understand half of what was said to me, so I do not know if my account is canceled or if they raised the price by $10. :/
Guess I'll know soon enough, haha.
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FREE AOL? by jun ling on Sep 8th, 2006 @ 6:07am
i read your post saying aol going free at last the only thing free with aol is it email but is that free no coz people pay to use aol so nothing so far free about aol but i call them and they told me something is going on there in talks but would not say what them talks was about i ask was aol going fee and all i was told is guy the guy on the phone not that he know of but said something was going on as aol was in talks but could not say what that was about aol is keeping the doors close at this time
and they have lost 4 million out of 26million so that meens only 22 million is with aol and the numbers are going down will aol end if the number go down fast
there not getting new people to sign up there singing off
so will aol come to a big end ? that is to be seen
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FREE AOL? by jun ling on Sep 8th, 2006 @ 6:08am
i read your post saying aol going free at last the only thing free with aol is it email but is that free no coz people pay to use aol so nothing so far free about aol but i call them and they told me something is going on there in talks but would not say what them talks was about i ask was aol going fee and all i was told is guy the guy on the phone not that he know of but said something was going on as aol was in talks but could not say what that was about aol is keeping the doors close at this time
and they have lost 4 million out of 26million so that meens only 22 million is with aol and the numbers are going down will aol end if the number go down fast
there not getting new people to sign up there singing off
so will aol come to a big end ? that is to be seen
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Re: aol by Anonymous Coward on Sep 11th, 2006 @ 4:47pm
aol stinks cant get rid of pop ups or there other crap
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Re: by Anonymous Coward on Sep 11th, 2006 @ 9:13pm
I remember 10 years ago when AOL was first introduced. No, it was never considered "cool".
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AOL/Virius by Hautedawg on Sep 12th, 2006 @ 2:03pm
Okay, we have seen the gammet of posts, from calling us "COOL NERDS" to calling AOL users LUSERS. We have had grammer/grammar and sentance/sentence fights, but the one thing that keeps getting skipped over is that AOL WAS useful at one time. We all had to start somewhere. I used AOL until I got tech savvy (if I really am) and then upgraded to DSL/Cable. Oh, in between there was a mismash of different ISPs, but AOL got me started on the internet.
If it had not been for AOL, thousands upon thousands of people would never have had the chance to get on the internet. There would have been huge gapping holes of information that would have never been placed on the tubes {satire} and yet we are all so damn high and mighty to think that "Lordy, I NEVER would use AOL".
AOL opened the doors to countless people who were not lucky enough to have computer courses in high school or college, people who actually used pencils and erasers...people who knew how to write a business letter on an IBM Selectric and lick a stamp to send it. AOL opened the door to so much, to so many...yet we look down our noses at them.
So, since we all feel AOL is evil, how many of us uber geeks made something better? How many of us created a better mouse trap, or do we just look down our noses at something becasue we are superior and expect others to quiver in our wake.
I for one...I like the quivering in the wake, but then again...I am old, I used AOL and thanks to that I now have a career (and have had it for many years) in IT, I have my certs because of an interest in computing and a lot of that came from AOL.
And free or not, it's shyte now...but at one time it was THE shyte.
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freeaol by ronald houseman on Oct 2nd, 2006 @ 12:17am
i want to pay nothing for aol
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by Anonymous Coward on Oct 6th, 2006 @ 5:05am
I have played the AOL game and they have tobe one of the most devious companies. They always find a way to screw you over. I cancelled my account after FIVE months of run around only to be charged a canelation fee THREE months after the fact. The sad part is they get away with it.
The new free email is a load of crap too. Mostly it is just a page of advertsiements. The little tiny window they give you to see you messages is so small that you can only see one message at a time and for spam you can't veen see the message - you have to openit to know what the heck it is.
Once again AOL is a class act.
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RE: #103 by Stephen Fox on Oct 6th, 2006 @ 8:46pm
If you don't like the new format of the AOL webmail, you can still use the classic version at "classic.webmail.aol.com". It is the email I use when away from my home computer. It is also much faster than the newer regular "webmail.aol.com", which is resource hungry.
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favorite places by Sandee on Nov 4th, 2006 @ 8:00am
if you cancel the aol youpay for a switch to free aol can you still access the favorite places you had?
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by Anonymous Coward on Nov 27th, 2006 @ 9:54pm
actually i think now u pay $10 a month for dial up SERVICE every1 else who already has high speed SERVICE gets aol free, not like anyone cares anymore...
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this is bogus by Keoni Medeiros on Dec 9th, 2006 @ 10:32pm
Now that AOL went free to focus on advertising, users like me with the broadband have to be connected illegal through my local ISP and every 15 minutes my connection gets dropped because of the illegal connection.
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Link Echange Request by tressa on Dec 21st, 2006 @ 4:28am
Dear webmaster,
Please reply and reciprocate
We have added our link to our site. Our details are as follows
Title: Dubai Real Estate
URL: http://www.gowealthy.com
Description:
Gowealthy.com is an information portal on International Real Estate, Properties in Dubai, Sharjah, Ajman, Offshore Banking, Investment, Bank Accounts, News, Travel and Entertainment.
Expecting your cooperation
Regards
Tressa
www.gowealthy.com
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Re: Link Echange Request by Sales on Jan 6th, 2007 @ 11:22am
Safa Homes is an real estate managment company operating in Dubai and having the official license to purchase and sell properties in the Middle East.
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Re: And I bet... by Monica on Jan 11th, 2007 @ 3:26pm
you got that right. they still continue to take money from my checking account for aol. my husbands too! I have called time and time again to no avail. I am going to close my account and reopen a new one just to get it to stop. it is rediculious
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Some suggestions for cancelling your AOL account. by Ambrose on Jan 13th, 2007 @ 4:52am
It's easier to cancel your account at AOL if you are willing to engage in a little subterfuge.
Tell them you're sorry, but you have no choice about it and must cancel your account immediately. When you are asked why, reply with an answer they can't counter.
Tell them your situation has changed and you can no longer utilize their services:
1.) Able Seaman. U.S. Navy. Federal Law requires you not to disclose the location of any U.S. warship, and you're sorry, but that's all you can tell them, except that there are no telephones or other way to access the Internet aboard a submarine.
2.) Peace Corps Volunteer Field Worker, Republic of Burkina Faso. No telecommunications access within 120 kilometers.
3.) Convicted hacker. A court order has required you to surrender your computer equipment and refrain from all Internet access for a period of five years.
4.) Victim, canine mischief. Your dog ate your modem.
Be creative.
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Re: AOL e-mail by aa on Jan 20th, 2007 @ 6:21am
11
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Re: Me too! by Jaquel on Feb 15th, 2007 @ 3:45am
I didn't pay for AOL for almost two years! I tried to cancel NUMEROUS times, and was always extended. Then, all of a sudden, I find they are trying to bill me, even turned me over to some bogus "collections" agency. I have no intention of them ever getting a dime, after all, how legit is a bill for something you can hook up to by picking up a free disc at any checkout counter in the USA?
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by michelle on Feb 25th, 2007 @ 10:17am
i tried cancelling aol this morning and they hung up on me ! wouldn't it be easier to switch to free (since i now i have comcast) and just never use aol or even just delete the software from my computer instead of calling in to cancel and sit on the phone for an hour ? and when i switch to free... is it really free or will they have some sort of hidden fee all of a sudden ?
:)
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how to get AOL free by Janis B Okeefe on Mar 14th, 2007 @ 5:11pm
I need the phone number to call to get AOL free
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by Patricia Bussey on Apr 20th, 2007 @ 4:16pm
Aol is still charging the above for connecting to
aol - we have broadband and Road Runner
thru Time Warner-
please review our bill.
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Re: AOL is always AOL by fred on Aug 27th, 2007 @ 6:16pm
km using a SERVICE CALLED PYRO.NET SUPLIED BY PYROTECHNICS.
AND AM VERY HAPPY WITH IT, AND HAVE HAD NO TROUBLE WITH IT SINCH I STARTED,ZND IT IS A GREAT SEVICE.
FRED
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AOL by fred on Aug 27th, 2007 @ 6:28pm
IM NOW USING A SERICE CALLED PYRONET AND IT COST 10.00 A MONTH AND YOU CAN PAY ANYWAY YOU LIKR ,EVEN BY MONEY ORDER,AND ITSS TWICE ASS GOOD AS AOL,AND AND IF YOU NEED HELP, YOU JHUSST CALL THEIR SERVICRE NUMBER, AND WITHIN SECONDS ITS SOLVED.
FRED
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Re: rofl by stu on Aug 29th, 2007 @ 5:46pm
...do you mean opening up their service...?
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AOL Cancel Trouble by Natalie on Sep 3rd, 2007 @ 7:47am
I called 888-265-8008 eight times within two days because I didn't feel comfortable with the representatives that I spoke with. I called back to talk to someone different in efforts to confirm that the previous representative handled my call correctly. At first, I called for a technical issue, but when I saw all that I had to go through in order to speak to a live person (and that the person did not know how to help me) I decided to cancel. So after my first call was "somehow" disconnected, I called back seven more times. Each time they tried to sign me up for something else by always asking for a "method of payment". They charged me the first day that I called, and the only reason why I found out right away, is because I called my credit card company the next day.
During my last call to AOL, I told the representative that I was recording the call, and what a difference that made. All of a sudden, I received cooperation along with a confirmation number, a credit, and a letter of confirmation via U.S. mail. In the interim, I faxed their 703-433-7283 number twice, complained to webmaster@aolwatch.org, and sent a letter to the person in charge of "Customer Management and Paid Services" in Virginia along with all of my documentation from every phone call, fax and email. AOL is the worst company that I have ever dealt with.
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by Anonymous Coward on Sep 12th, 2007 @ 3:03pm
huh? free? it is now 2007 and it is not free ...
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Collector item? by Acorn on Dec 19th, 2007 @ 2:35pm
People are collecting AOL's CDs now, so even if you don't like their service you might want to hold onto a few of the discs. Look at this site, www.lydiasaoldisks.com
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I'm an idiot by Dumbass on Feb 5th, 2008 @ 10:51am
I just cancelled an AOL account that I've been paying on a credit card since 2004. My helpful customer service representative happily informed me that since i've been such a good customer for so long, AOL would be happy to give me an account for FREE!
Imagine my joy.
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by Twinkie on Feb 21st, 2008 @ 4:02pm
If you dont have dial up its supposed to cost $9.95. I had to cancel my credit/debit card that I had on file with AOL but I still get connected. A pop up box tells me my account is frozen and states sign on with my master screenname and pay, but after about a minute the box goes away and my service is free!
That just shows how terrible their software is. It cannot even keep out people that didnt pay.
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by Jeremy on Apr 12th, 2008 @ 12:50pm
I just went to cancel my $14.95 account (I have my own broadband access) and found that I can keep using the AOL software, email, and IM features for $0 a month. I didn't even have to call in. Here's the email I got after I did it:
Dear Member,
Thank you for being a valued AOL member and for contacting Member Services about your AOL® account! This email serves as confirmation that we canceled your paid account and converted it to a free account on 04/12/2008. You will have access to your AOL Internet connection until 04/17/2008, at which time your Free AOL plan will take effect. This plan does not include dial-up access or live technical customer support from AOL. However, you can continue to use AOL over any other Internet connection by following the instructions below about how to access your Free AOL account.
You will not be charged any additional monthly membership fees, but you will be responsible for any other charges you might have incurred since your last billing date 03/17/2008.
PLEASE SAVE THIS CONFIRMATION EMAIL AS YOUR RECORD OF THE CANCELLATION AND CONVERSION OF YOUR PAID MEMBERSHIP AND FOR FUTURE REFERENCE ON USING YOUR FREE MEMBER ACCOUNT.
What Your Free AOL Account Includes:
Once your paid member account is converted, you will still be able to use your account over an Internet connection of your choice, continuing to enjoy the content and many of the features that you currently use, such as:
✓ Your current AOL screen name for communicating via email and instant messaging
✓ Your familiar AOL software for quicker and safer Web browsing
✓ Safety and security software to help protect you from viruses, spyware, and more
✓ Your photos, emails, address book and everything else you've saved to your AOL account
✓ Great broadband content like AOL® Radio with XM, videos, news, sports and more!
How to Access Your Free AOL Account:
First, you will need to connect to the Internet through your new high-speed, broadband or dial-up provider. Then select one of the following ways to access your account:
✓ Using the AOL software (e.g. AOL Desktop), follow our step-by-step instructions to set up a new connection. Please note: If you previously chose to block pop-up offers while using AOL's software, your preference will be reset to allow pop-ups once you activate your Free AOL service is activated. Please visit marketingpreferences.aol.com to review your preferences and set them to meet your needs.
✓ Using a web browser (e.g., Internet Explorer or Firefox), go to www.aol.com and sign in to access your email, send instant messages and more.
For more information on our free features and content, please visit discover.aol.com. If you have a technical or billing question, or need help accessing your account, please visit help.aol.com.
Please note: AOL membership and use of AOL's free services remains subject to the AOL Terms of Service. For complete details click here.
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Re: But are they really going free? by james monaghan on Apr 16th, 2008 @ 8:08am
free aol
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hi by Meg on Apr 20th, 2008 @ 5:29pm
I was wondering how i can get my unsend button back on aol? so if you can let me know thanks
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You get what you pay for. by Heywood on May 10th, 2008 @ 1:30pm
AOL free email stinks when you can't even access it.
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what a deal !!!!!!! by michael l osborne on May 24th, 2008 @ 10:48am
some thing for free.
you just don`t see that any more........
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ada by czcz on May 30th, 2008 @ 4:36am
asdasdad
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Re: Re: AOL e-mail by Shirley Lang on Jun 4th, 2008 @ 3:58pm
Yes I use AOL, and I have comcast high speed.
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retuern message by hi on Jun 13th, 2008 @ 8:01pm
sorry I couldn't reply before I am not a payed member so if u care to get in touch us the email above
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