Few technology announcements have been met with such a mixture of humour, melancholy and memories than AOL's recent revelation that it would be discontinuing its dial-up internet service.
Many were understandably surprised to learn that AOL still offered the dial-up service, and the news inevitably elicited memories of the loud but charming modem dial-up sounds that accompanied it.
Even in many remote parts of the world, where broadband infrastructure is non-existent, dial-up internet has been largely shunned in favour of 5G cellular technology and low-earth-orbit satellite services such as Starlink.
So how did AOL keep its dial-up service going for so long? The short answer is that although it might be difficult to find users, some still do rely on the service, or at least want to keep it handy. According to data from the US Census Bureau, about 163,000 households in the US still depend on dial-up internet, and it's safe to say a portion of that number used AOL.
There are a few factors leading to this, paramount among which is that despite widespread broadband availability, there are still rural areas of the US that have no high-speed access. The same goes for parts of Canada. Economics also plays a role, with dial-up services still much cheaper than broadband.
And although few statistics are readily available, the population of dial-up users probably skews older, with that demographic probably using the internet for basic email and no-frills web browsing that don't require fast downloads.
Some dial-up customers may simply have forgotten to cancel their service or have died. Whatever the scenario, that steady stream of monthly income – often referred to by economists as recurring revenue – proved to be comfortable for AOL, until it wasn't.
“AOL routinely evaluates its products and services and has decided to discontinue dial-up internet,” announced the company, now owned by Yahoo. “As a result, on September 30, 2025 this service and the associated software … will be discontinued.”
Steve Case, once the media darling and rock-star chief executive leading AOL through its most prosperous days in the mid-1990s, joined a chorus of people reminiscing about the service. “Thanks for the memories, RIP,” he posted to X.
Robert Wahl, an associate professor of computer science at Concordia University Wisconsin, said that although dial-up has largely outlived its usefulness, the sheer number of those who first logged on to the internet using it means it is seared it into the collective memory.
“In its day, one of the huge advantages was that if you had a phone line, you had internet access available,” he said, referring to the built-in advantage that gave dial-up such a long shelf life. “However, these advantages are often outweighed by the extremely slow speeds of dial-up access,” Prof Wahl explained. “Dial-up systems were also hampered by the fact that an incoming phone call on the same phone line could drop the internet connection,” he said.
Hypothetically, users might still be able to use dial-up modems to communicate and use obscure networks, but with AOL's announcement, one of the last pillars of the original internet boom has finally come crashing down.
It's easy to forget now amid almost ubiquitous broadband internet access, 5G cellular technology and, soon, 6G, but AOL, along with other dial-up services such as CompuServe and Prodigy, were the first experiences many had using modems. The services gained popularity around the same time as the World Wide Web, as it was often referred to originally (largely the idea of Sir Tim Berners-Lee), was gaining traction.
A debate emerged amid all these digital communication developments about which philosophy would prove victorious. AOL, CompuServe, Prodigy and others took walled-garden approaches, putting a user-friendly interface on the back of dial-up modem connections where people would check email and stocks, use chat rooms and browse a few headlines.
AOL soon became the most popular choice, in part thanks to an unprecedented advertising blitz in which the company gave away its software on free CDs. At one point in the 1990s, it became almost impossible to avoid seeing AOL logos and discs.
Meanwhile, there was also sudden interest in early web browsers such as Mosaic, and later Netscape Navigator, along with Internet Explorer, that often sat on top of the dial-up services. Yet gradually, upgrades were made to the US telecoms grid, and high-speed broadband internet services began to pop up.
The speed difference compared to dial-up modems, and the fact that it was almost “always on”, opened the floodgates and made broadband popular, leading to an easy victory for the technology. Web browsers, which were increasingly sophisticated and easier to use, combined with the simplicity of Hypertext Markup Language (HTML), also became more prevalent and important.
Perhaps most importantly, because web browsers weren't walled gardens like AOL or similar services, they were easily decoupled from those services, ultimately rendering them unnecessary. Yet as US Census Data points out, someone, somewhere is still using dial-up.
Believe it or not, even with AOL's demise they still have options. Juno and NetZero offer the service, promoted on their incredibly simple and presumably fast-loading websites, which are designed for 56k modem speeds.
“We offer reliable service with thousands of dial-up access numbers nationwide,” reads NetZero's homepage, a charming pitch to prospective customers that elicits memories of the web's earliest days. Over on Juno's page, it offers “up to 10 hours a month of reliable dial-up internet access, free of charge”.
The specs: 2018 BMW X2 and X3
Price, as tested: Dh255,150 (X2); Dh383,250 (X3)
Engine: 2.0-litre turbocharged inline four-cylinder (X2); 3.0-litre twin-turbo inline six-cylinder (X3)
Power 192hp @ 5,000rpm (X2); 355hp @ 5,500rpm (X3)
Torque: 280Nm @ 1,350rpm (X2); 500Nm @ 1,520rpm (X3)
Transmission: Seven-speed automatic (X2); Eight-speed automatic (X3)
Fuel consumption, combined: 5.7L / 100km (X2); 8.3L / 100km (X3)
AI traffic lights to ease congestion at seven points to Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Street
The seven points are:
Shakhbout bin Sultan Street
Dhafeer Street
Hadbat Al Ghubainah Street (outbound)
Salama bint Butti Street
Al Dhafra Street
Rabdan Street
Umm Yifina Street exit (inbound)
THE BIO
Born: Mukalla, Yemen, 1979
Education: UAE University, Al Ain
Family: Married with two daughters: Asayel, 7, and Sara, 6
Favourite piece of music: Horse Dance by Naseer Shamma
Favourite book: Science and geology
Favourite place to travel to: Washington DC
Best advice you’ve ever been given: If you have a dream, you have to believe it, then you will see it.
In numbers
1,000 tonnes of waste collected daily:
- 800 tonnes converted into alternative fuel
- 150 tonnes to landfill
- 50 tonnes sold as scrap metal
800 tonnes of RDF replaces 500 tonnes of coal
Two conveyor lines treat more than 350,000 tonnes of waste per year
25 staff on site
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
The biog
Favourite food: Tabbouleh, greek salad and sushi
Favourite TV show: That 70s Show
Favourite animal: Ferrets, they are smart, sensitive, playful and loving
Favourite holiday destination: Seychelles, my resolution for 2020 is to visit as many spiritual retreats and animal shelters across the world as I can
Name of first pet: Eddy, a Persian cat that showed up at our home
Favourite dog breed: I love them all - if I had to pick Yorkshire terrier for small dogs and St Bernard's for big
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Business Insights
- Canada and Mexico are significant energy suppliers to the US, providing the majority of oil and natural gas imports
- The introduction of tariffs could hinder the US's clean energy initiatives by raising input costs for materials like nickel
- US domestic suppliers might benefit from higher prices, but overall oil consumption is expected to decrease due to elevated costs
SPEC%20SHEET%3A%20SAMSUNG%20GALAXY%20S23%20ULTRA
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How to apply for a drone permit
- Individuals must register on UAE Drone app or website using their UAE Pass
- Add all their personal details, including name, nationality, passport number, Emiratis ID, email and phone number
- Upload the training certificate from a centre accredited by the GCAA
- Submit their request
What are the regulations?
- Fly it within visual line of sight
- Never over populated areas
- Ensure maximum flying height of 400 feet (122 metres) above ground level is not crossed
- Users must avoid flying over restricted areas listed on the UAE Drone app
- Only fly the drone during the day, and never at night
- Should have a live feed of the drone flight
- Drones must weigh 5 kg or less
'My Son'
Director: Christian Carion
Starring: James McAvoy, Claire Foy, Tom Cullen, Gary Lewis
Rating: 2/5
What the law says
Micro-retirement is not a recognised concept or employment status under Federal Decree Law No. 33 of 2021 on the Regulation of Labour Relations (as amended) (UAE Labour Law). As such, it reflects a voluntary work-life balance practice, rather than a recognised legal employment category, according to Dilini Loku, senior associate for law firm Gateley Middle East.
“Some companies may offer formal sabbatical policies or career break programmes; however, beyond such arrangements, there is no automatic right or statutory entitlement to extended breaks,” she explains.
“Any leave taken beyond statutory entitlements, such as annual leave, is typically regarded as unpaid leave in accordance with Article 33 of the UAE Labour Law. While employees may legally take unpaid leave, such requests are subject to the employer’s discretion and require approval.”
If an employee resigns to pursue micro-retirement, the employment contract is terminated, and the employer is under no legal obligation to rehire the employee in the future unless specific contractual agreements are in place (such as return-to-work arrangements), which are generally uncommon, Ms Loku adds.
The five pillars of Islam
1. Fasting
2. Prayer
3. Hajj
4. Shahada
5. Zakat
Red flags
- Promises of high, fixed or 'guaranteed' returns.
- Unregulated structured products or complex investments often used to bypass traditional safeguards.
- Lack of clear information, vague language, no access to audited financials.
- Overseas companies targeting investors in other jurisdictions - this can make legal recovery difficult.
- Hard-selling tactics - creating urgency, offering 'exclusive' deals.
Courtesy: Carol Glynn, founder of Conscious Finance Coaching
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
What sanctions would be reimposed?
Under ‘snapback’, measures imposed on Iran by the UN Security Council in six resolutions would be restored, including:
- An arms embargo
- A ban on uranium enrichment and reprocessing
- A ban on launches and other activities with ballistic missiles capable of delivering nuclear weapons, as well as ballistic missile technology transfer and technical assistance
- A targeted global asset freeze and travel ban on Iranian individuals and entities
- Authorisation for countries to inspect Iran Air Cargo and Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines cargoes for banned goods
The specs
- Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
- Power: 640hp
- Torque: 760nm
- On sale: 2026
- Price: Not announced yet
Lexus LX700h specs
Engine: 3.4-litre twin-turbo V6 plus supplementary electric motor
Power: 464hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 790Nm from 2,000-3,600rpm
Transmission: 10-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 11.7L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh590,000
The%20specs%20
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RACE CARD
6.30pm Maiden (TB) Dh82.500 (Dirt) 1,400m
7.05pm Handicap (TB) Dh87,500 (D) 1,400m
7.40pm Handicap (TB) Dh92,500 (Turf) 2,410m
8.15pm Handicap (TB) Dh105,000 (D) 1,900m
8.50pm UAE 2000 Guineas Trial (TB) Conditions Dh183,650 (D) 1,600m
9.25pm Dubai Trophy (TB) Conditions Dh183,650 (T) 1,200m
10pm Handicap (TB) Dh102,500 (T) 1,400m
GAC GS8 Specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 248hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 400Nm at 1,750-4,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 9.1L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh149,900
Specs
Engine: 51.5kW electric motor
Range: 400km
Power: 134bhp
Torque: 175Nm
Price: From Dh98,800
Available: Now
