# AOL

> American web portal and online service provider

**Wikidata**: [Q27585](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q27585)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AOL)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/aol

## Summary
AOL is an American web portal and online service provider founded in 1985, originally as a commercial online service before evolving into a multimedia and internet services company. It became a pioneer in internet services, offering email, instant messaging, and early web browsing capabilities, and was later acquired by Time Warner in 2000 and by Verizon in 2015.

## Key Facts
- Founded in 1985 as Quantum Computer Services, later rebranded as America Online (AOL)
- Initially launched as a commercial online service (COS) for personal computers
- Acquired by Time Warner in 2000 for $165 billion, becoming part of AOL Time Warner
- Acquired by Verizon in 2015 for $4.4 billion, forming AOL Verizon
- Operated as a subsidiary of Verizon until its dissolution in 2019
- Offered early internet services including email, instant messaging, and web browsing
- Developed the AOL Instant Messenger (AIM) service, which became a dominant instant messaging platform
- Launched the Netscape Navigator web browser in 1994, a popular early browser
- Created the OSCAR protocol, the foundation for AOL's instant messaging services
- Had headquarters in New York City at 770 Broadway, New York, NY 10003
- Had a significant presence in the software industry, developing products like AOLserver
- Had a website at aol.com and was known by aliases including Aol., aol.com, Tegic, AmericaOnline, America Online, AOL RED, America OnLine, AmericaOnLine
- Had a country of operation as United States
- Had industry classifications including mass media, internet, software industry, advertising, and telecommunications
- Had owned subsidiaries including Netscape, Nullsoft, and HuffPost
- Had been owned by Verizon, Time Warner, and America Online Inc.
- Had a platform of operation as the World Wide Web
- Had approximately 5,600 employees
- Had inception dates of 1983 and 1985
- Had been founded by Steve Case, Jim Kimsey, and Steve Saunders
- Had parent organizations including Verizon, Time Warner, and AOL Inc.
- Had subsidiaries including Netscape, Nullsoft, HuffPost, Engadget, TechCrunch, Joystiq, about.me, and MapQuest Inc.
- Had instances of being a web portal, online service provider, media company, business, and enterprise
- Had a headquarters location in New York City
- Had a sitelink count of 51
- Had a Wikipedia title of AOL
- Had an operating system of Microsoft Windows
- Had a programming language of C++

## FAQs
### What was AOL's original purpose and how did it evolve?
AOL was originally founded as Quantum Computer Services in 1985, rebranded as America Online (AOL) in 1989. It started as a commercial online service (COS) for personal computers, offering early internet services like email, instant messaging, and web browsing. Over time, it evolved into a multimedia and internet services company, acquiring other companies like Netscape and Nullsoft, and expanding its offerings to include content and advertising.

### What were AOL's most notable products and services?
AOL's most notable products and services included the AOL Instant Messenger (AIM), the Netscape Navigator web browser, and the OSCAR protocol. It also offered early internet services like email, instant messaging, and web browsing. AOL developed the AOLserver, an open-source web server software, and had a significant presence in the software industry.

### What were AOL's major acquisitions and ownership changes?
AOL was acquired by Time Warner in 2000 for $165 billion, becoming part of AOL Time Warner. It was then acquired by Verizon in 2015 for $4.4 billion, forming AOL Verizon. AOL operated as a subsidiary of Verizon until its dissolution in 2019. It had owned subsidiaries including Netscape, Nullsoft, and HuffPost.

### What was AOL's role in the early internet and digital media landscape?
AOL played a significant role in the early internet and digital media landscape. It was a pioneer in internet services, offering early email, instant messaging, and web browsing capabilities. It developed the AOL Instant Messenger (AIM) service, which became a dominant instant messaging platform, and launched the Netscape Navigator web browser in 1994, a popular early browser. AOL also created the OSCAR protocol, the foundation for AOL's instant messaging services.

### What was AOL's impact on the software industry and technology landscape?
AOL had a significant impact on the software industry and technology landscape. It developed the AOLserver, an open-source web server software, and had a presence in the software industry. It acquired companies like Netscape and Nullsoft, expanding its offerings and influence in the technology landscape. AOL's role in the early internet and digital media landscape helped shape the development of the World Wide Web and the internet as we know it today.

## Why It Matters
AOL is significant in the history of the internet and digital media landscape. It played a pivotal role in the early development of the World Wide Web, offering early internet services like email, instant messaging, and web browsing. AOL's acquisition of Netscape in 1999 and its development of the AOL Instant Messenger (AIM) service helped shape the digital communication landscape. AOL's impact on the software industry and technology landscape is also notable, with its development of the AOLserver and its presence in the software industry. AOL's role in the early internet and digital media landscape has had a lasting influence on the development of the internet and the digital world as we know it today.

## Notable For
- Being a pioneer in internet services, offering early email, instant messaging, and web browsing capabilities
- Developing the AOL Instant Messenger (AIM) service, which became a dominant instant messaging platform
- Launching the Netscape Navigator web browser in 1994, a popular early browser
- Creating the OSCAR protocol, the foundation for AOL's instant messaging services
- Having a significant presence in the software industry, developing products like AOLserver
- Having a notable impact on the early internet and digital media landscape, shaping the development of the World Wide Web
- Having a significant influence on the software industry and technology landscape, with its development of the AOLserver and its presence in the software industry
- Having a notable role in the early internet and digital media landscape, with its acquisition of Netscape and its development of the AOL Instant Messenger (AIM) service

## Body
### History
AOL was founded in 1985 as Quantum Computer Services, later rebranded as America Online (AOL) in 1989. It started as a commercial online service (COS) for personal computers, offering early internet services like email, instant messaging, and web browsing. AOL evolved into a multimedia and internet services company, acquiring other companies like Netscape and Nullsoft, and expanding its offerings to include content and advertising. AOL was acquired by Time Warner in 2000 for $165 billion, becoming part of AOL Time Warner. It was then acquired by Verizon in 2015 for $4.4 billion, forming AOL Verizon. AOL operated as a subsidiary of Verizon until its dissolution in 2019.

### Products and Services
AOL offered a range of products and services, including early internet services like email, instant messaging, and web browsing. It developed the AOL Instant Messenger (AIM) service, which became a dominant instant messaging platform, and launched the Netscape Navigator web browser in 1994, a popular early browser. AOL also created the OSCAR protocol, the foundation for AOL's instant messaging services. AOL developed the AOLserver, an open-source web server software, and had a significant presence in the software industry.

### Acquisitions and Ownership
AOL had a notable history of acquisitions and ownership changes. It was acquired by Time Warner in 2000 for $165 billion, becoming part of AOL Time Warner. It was then acquired by Verizon in 2015 for $4.4 billion, forming AOL Verizon. AOL operated as a subsidiary of Verizon until its dissolution in 2019. AOL had owned subsidiaries including Netscape, Nullsoft, and HuffPost.

### Impact on the Internet and Digital Media Landscape
AOL played a significant role in the early internet and digital media landscape. It was a pioneer in internet services, offering early email, instant messaging, and web browsing capabilities. AOL's acquisition of Netscape in 1999 and its development of the AOL Instant Messenger (AIM) service helped shape the digital communication landscape. AOL's impact on the software industry and technology landscape is also notable, with its development of the AOLserver and its presence in the software industry. AOL's role in the early internet and digital media landscape has had a lasting influence on the development of the internet and the digital world as we know it today.

### Headquarters and Location
AOL had headquarters in New York City at 770 Broadway, New York, NY 10003. It had a significant presence in the United States and had a notable impact on the internet and digital media landscape. AOL's headquarters location was a key factor in its ability to shape the development of the internet and the digital world as we know it today.

### Industry and Classification
AOL had industry classifications including mass media, internet, software industry, advertising, and telecommunications. It had a significant presence in the software industry, developing products like AOLserver, and had a notable impact on the internet and digital media landscape. AOL's industry classifications were a key factor in its ability to shape the development of the internet and the digital world as we know it today.

### Key People
AOL had key people including Steve Case, Jim Kimsey, and Steve Saunders, who founded the company. It also had key people like Tim Armstrong, who served as a businessman and was involved in the company's operations. AOL's key people were a key factor in its ability to shape the development of the internet and the digital world as we know it today.

### Subsidiaries and Affiliations
AOL had subsidiaries including Netscape, Nullsoft, and HuffPost. It also had affiliations with companies like Verizon and Time Warner, which played a significant role in its operations and acquisitions. AOL's subsidiaries and affiliations were a key factor in its ability to shape the development of the internet and the digital world as we know it today.

### Operating System and Programming Language
AOL had an operating system of Microsoft Windows and a programming language of C++. It had a significant presence in the software industry, developing products like AOLserver, and had a notable impact on the internet and digital media landscape. AOL's operating system and programming language were a key factor in its ability to shape the development of the internet and the digital world as we know it today.

## References

1. National Software Reference Library
2. [Source](https://search.aol.com/aol/search?q=a)
3. Open ISNI for Organizations
4. [Source](https://money.cnn.com/1998/12/22/markets/afterbell/)
5. ROR release v1.19
6. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
7. MusicBrainz
8. [Source](https://nypost.com/2013/04/30/its-on-new-aol-slogan-steaming-sony/)
9. Google Knowledge Graph
10. [Source](https://yahoo.github.io/oss-guide/docs/resources/resources-external.html)
11. [Source](http://km.aifb.kit.edu/services/crunchbase/)
12. GRID Release 2016-12-06
13. GRID Release 2017-01-10
14. [Source](https://tools.wmflabs.org/whois/gateway.py?lookup=true&ip=172.128.0.0)
15. [Source](https://tools.wmflabs.org/whois/gateway.py?lookup=true&ip=172.200.0.0)
16. [Source](https://tools.wmflabs.org/whois/gateway.py?lookup=true&ip=172.208.0.0)
17. [Source](https://tools.wmflabs.org/whois/gateway.py?lookup=true&ip=172.216.0.0)
18. Microsoft Academic Knowledge Graph