AOL Dial-Up and Broadband ISP Review

The America Online (AOL) Dial-Up ISP (Internet Service Provider) is still extremely popular, despite the fact that many people are moving to broadband service. I have a feeling this may have something to do with the multiple AOL CDs people receive to sign up for a free month of service, since the company certainly does not have anything spectacular to offer that you cannot get elsewhere. AOL can, however, offer a migraine that can last for many months if you ever decide to leave them for something better.

First, I will cover their broadband service, or lack thereof. If you currently use AOL Dial-Up as your ISP and would like to move to AOL Broadband, you are dependent on current broadband service being available from a DSL or Cable carrier in your area. In other words, AOL itself does not offer broadband service. When you sign up for AOL broadband, you are basically getting a third party broadband ISP with free AOL services such as email and chat.

You can just as easily search for a broadband ISP in your area by other means (usually cable is the best, and may be available through your cable provider), and go through the cable or DSL ISP directly rather than having to deal with AOL's almost non-existent customer service. If you do decide to go with AOL Broadband, your quality of service will depend on the third-party broadband provider.

As for the free AOL services you get with AOL Broadband, they are nothing more than free email and community services such as video and chat, which you can find anywhere on the Internet. Google, Yahoo, YouTube, and Myspace are some examples of companies that offer free communities and other services that specialize in specific areas, and may give you better quality services that what you would find with AOL. Free AOL specializes more in advertising other AOL services to get you to upgrade than in offering a quality product. If you can get past (or don't mind) the constant advertising on AOL, then their services are not too bad, but they really do not offer anything special that you cannot get elsewhere.