AfterDawn: News

AOL still has 2.8 million dial-up subscribers

AOL reported its Q4 quarterly earnings this morning, and Dan Frommer put together some charts with the most interesting facts form the report.

The company saw its first revenue growth since 2005, but it's becoming increasingly clear that the company makes no money outside of its "old services," most notably dial-up.



AOL still has 2.8 million dial-up subscribers, down from a peak of 27 million in 2002. The company only lost 100,000 subscribers during the quarter, lower than average.

Nearly all of the company's profits come from dial-up, AOL mail, AIM, etc., even though the division accounts for under 40 percent of revenue.

AOL's "Brand Group," which includes content providers like Huffington Post, TechCrunch and Engadget, accounts for almost the same amount of revenue as the services group, but brings in very minuscule profits.





Written by: Andre Yoskowitz @ 9 Feb 2013 0:23

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• 5 comments

• OldSchoolCPU

  AOL is a thing of the past. Let it die peacefully.

  9.2.2013 07:19 #1

• smike69

  Originally posted by OldSchoolCPU: AOL is a thing of the past. Let it die peacefully. How they are still making money with subscriptions is due to the fact of having a lot of "back in the day" subscribers that can not let go of their aol email address for business purposes, or for the hassle of change. Some actually still think they are paying AOL for their internet service..even though of course that is not the case (IE Time warner here in the northeast).. They still hang on to even using the AOl browser for all internet functions..and really do not want to change to even IE, Firefox,Chrome, Opera ..Etc. So for a company with customers solely with the fear of going through hassle of just doing what they always do and used to is plausible. Can only preach to a choir or teach a dog new tricks :)

  9.2.2013 19:16 #2

• chefdamo

  See what companies do here in the uk and Europe is do some crazy package deals meaning its cheaper to get a package then have dial up phone and tv and now days cell/mobile.
  
  For a year you could save more then $800 usa a year and that is a big saving because to run dial up and broadband at the same time costs to much by them taking dial up away is much easier and they don't have to mess with configuring the line
  
  
  In most cases as we know its better to be on broadband now days for that fact you can use software to call people for next to noting or even free in most cases.
  
  dial up is ok you want to check email but anything else you better have all day for that.
  
  Dial up was great in its day. I remember freeserv with that came pop ups and I figured what file had it and the string. So I removed the string and bam was off.
  
  
  now days most people just want to keep up with the jones witch is not bothered. some people get fast broadband and what I found out is 30mb is perfect even if you have 3 or 4 computers/laptops on the line.
  
  things have come a long way even from just a few years ago.
  

  10.2.2013 02:08 #3

• xboxdvl2

  here in australia certain areas cant get broadband but you can get dial up for $1 a month.
  we dont have tv licences.
  
  telstra is a big company here and they have some phone and t-box bundle.basically get to stream movies to a t-box for free, home phone and broadband internet with low gbs.
  
  telstra and optus are the 2 main companys here and they basically overcharge and sign people up for a bunch of features that arnt actually required and manipulate them into thinking they get a good deal.
  
  the national broadband has started here and certain areas are getting offered faster speeds at lower prices but it will be years until its all completed.
  

  i have the big screen tv,a ps3 and 5.1 channel surround sound.car still runs smooth and computer still works but its a bit outdated.

  10.2.2013 03:15 #4

• jhvance

  Probably close to 100% of those US dial-up subscribers live in rural areas where no form of broadband is available, or affordable if it is available.
  

  16.2.2013 09:48 #5