On September 30, 2025, one of the last living legends of internet history will come to an end: AOL is discontinuing its modem access after an incredible 34 years. This will finally eliminate the characteristic noise, whistling, and beeping that, for millions of people worldwide, was the gateway to the internet.
How it all Began – Internet via the Telephone Line
In the early 1990s, there were hardly any ways for private users to directly access the internet. Broadband connections such as DSL or fiber optics did not exist. Instead, people used a modem that dialed a number via the normal telephone line. In the process, computers and providers exchanged transmission parameters via a series of shrill tones – a sound that became the soundtrack of their digital youth for many.
AOL, launched in the USA in 1991, not only offered access to the internet, but also its own portal with news, chat rooms, software downloads, and of course, lots of advertising. To get to the actual World Wide Web, you had to start the additional AOL software.
The Era of AOL CDs
AOL became famous not least through its aggressive marketing. From the mid-90s, the company distributed countless free CDs with its dial-up software – often including 50, 100, or even 500 free hours. The silver discs could be found everywhere: in newspapers and magazines, at gas stations, in electronics stores, and of course in the home mailbox.
Some actually used the CDs for surfing, others repurposed them as coasters, scarecrow reflectors, or wall decorations. Artists built entire installations from them. The designs changed constantly, which even led to the emergence of a small collector scene.
The most famous advertising figure of this era was tennis legend Boris Becker. His saying “Am I in yet?” became one of the most iconic advertising slogans in German internet history.
From High-Flyer to Niche Existence
With the spread of faster broadband connections, the need for dial-up services shrank rapidly. AOL tried to reinvent itself several times, changed owners and business models – but modem access remained surprisingly available for a long time.
In 2015, around two million people in the USA were still paying for the slow service, many of them without actually using it. Even in 2021, 1.5 million subscribers were still registered, even if only a few thousand actually went online via modem.
Why It’s over Now
According to AOL, the company regularly reviews its offerings. The decision to discontinue the service is part of a strategic realignment. For the few remaining users – especially in rural areas without broadband – the only option is often to switch to more expensive alternatives such as satellite internet.
With the shutdown, not only a technical relic disappears, but also a piece of internet culture. For many, AOL remains inextricably linked to the sounds of the modem, the iconic CDs, and a time when the sentence “I’m just going on the internet for a bit” meant that the phone was blocked for the next hour.