The familiar sound of dial-up internet is now history. As reported by NBC News, America Online—better known as AOL—has officially shut down its dial-up service, closing a chapter of 1990s internet culture.
AOL once boasted over 20 million users and even inspired a Tom Hanks–Meg Ryan romantic comedy named after its iconic greeting, “You’ve got mail!” But in recent years, the customer base had dwindled to a small fraction of its former size.
Importantly, AOL as a company is not disappearing. Legacy email addresses remain active, and the company continues to provide tech support and identity-theft protection services.
Still, the moment is a nostalgic one for many. As USA Today put it, the hum and whir of a dial-up modem was how millions first connected to the internet, marking the start of the digital age.