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AOL has officially ended its dial-up internet service. This service was very popular many years ago.
Last month, AOL (America Online) announced that it would close the service. It stopped offering dial-up on September 30. Now, you cannot find information about it on AOL’s website.
AOL started decades ago and first connected many homes to the internet. It became very big in the 1990s and early 2000s. People used their home phone lines to connect and then heard a series of beeps and buzzes. If someone needed to use the home phone, your internet would stop. AOL also sent many free trial CDs in the mail to get new customers.
Later, broadband and wireless internet became popular. These newer technologies are faster and easier to use. Most people stopped using dial-up.
However, in the U.S., about 163,401 homes still used it in 2023. This is less than 1% of homes with internet.
AOL was the biggest dial-up provider for a while, but it was not the only one. Some small companies still offer dial-up today.
In recent years, other old internet services have also disappeared. For example, Microsoft ended its Skype video calling service earlier this year. It also ended Internet Explorer in 2022. AOL ended its Instant Messenger chat service in 2017.
AOL became famous for its “You’ve got mail” catchphrase that users heard when they accessed the internet. There is also a famous movie from 1998 with Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan by the same name.
Today, AOL still offers free email and other services like identity protection. The end of its dial-up service is a big change in the history of the internet.
Vocabulary
- Officially – done in a formal and authorized way; real; final decision
- Dial-up – A very old, slow way to get on the internet by using a phone line
- Internet service – A “connection” a company sells so you can use/get on the internet
- Popular – Liked by many people; something many people like; common; frequent
- Announce – share information openly; to tell the public; to make a statement; to report; to tell everyone
- Offer – to provide; to supply; to propose; to make something available for sale or use; to suggest
- Decade – 10 years; a 10-year period
- Connect – To join or link things together; hook up; attach
- Series –A group of similar things that happen one after the other
- Beep – A short, high sound
- Buzz – A low, humming sound, like a bee
- Trial – a test; an experiment; a short, free time to try a product before you buy it
- CD (compact disc) – A flat, round plastic disc that holds music or computer programs; 💿
- Broadband – a modern, fast way to get on the internet
- Wireless – no wires; no cables
- Provider – A company that “gives” you something
- Recent – not long ago;
- Disappear – To go away completely, so you cannot see or find it anymore; can’t be found; vanish; not able to be seen
- Video call – a phone call using cameras and screen so you can see the person you are talking to; “FaceTime”, “Zoom”
- Catchphrase – A short, famous sentence or saying that people know well
- User – a person who uses something
- Access – to be able to use, enter, or get near something; use a service
- Identity – Who you are, like your name, age, and other personal information
- Protection – Keeping something safe from harm; something that keeps you safe from harm/danger
Quiz
Discussion Questions
- Do you remember dial-up internet or the “beeps and buzzes”? If not, what do you think it was like to use the internet when it was so slow?
- Why do you think some people were still using the old dial-up internet in 2023?
- The internet is always changing. Which popular internet services today do you think might “disappear” in the next 10 years, and why?
- What is the most important change in the internet since you started using it? (For example, speed, mobile access, video, etc.)
- AOL sent many free trial CDs in the mail. If a company wants new customers today, what is the best way for them to advertise their service?
- English teachers looking for teaching ideas, check out my post on using easy news articles for lessons.
- English learners looking for study ideas, check out my post on using news stories for English practice.
Original Story
Fill-in-the-Blank Listening Practice
AOL _____ officially ended its dial-up internet service. _____ service was very popular many years ago.
Last month, AOL (_____ Online) announced that it would close the service. It _____ offering dial-up on September 30. Now, you _____ find information about it on AOL’s website.
AOL _____ decades ago and first connected many homes to the _____. It became very big in the 1990s and early _____. People used their home phone lines to connect and _____ heard a series of beeps and buzzes. If _____ needed to use the home phone, your internet _____ stop. AOL also sent many free trial CDs in the mail to get _____ customers.
Later, broadband and _____ internet became popular. These newer technologies are _____ and easier to use. Most people stopped _____ dial-up.
However, in the U.S., about _____ homes still used it in 2023. This is less than 1% of homes with _____.
AOL was the biggest dial-up provider for a _____, but it was not the only one. Some small companies still offer dial-up _____.
In recent years, other _____ internet services have also disappeared. For example, Microsoft _____ its Skype video calling service earlier _____ year. It also ended Internet Explorer in _____. AOL ended its Instant Messenger chat service in _____.
AOL became famous for _____ “You’ve got mail” catchphrase that users heard when they accessed the internet. _____ is also a famous movie from 1998 with Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan _____ the same name.
Today, AOL still offers free _____ and other services like identity protection. _____ end of its dial-up service is a big change in the history of _____ internet.
