AOL Doubles Plan Prices...

[MacMagus]

They've doubled prices on the $4.99 BYOA/Dial-Up Plan. Sort of.

Actually, they're canceling the $4.99 plan and automatically kicking up all of those people who opted for the hybrid BYOA plan that came with a couple of hours of dial-up to the $9.99 unlimited dial-up plan.

My folks are on that $4.99 AOL plan. Previously, they used to take a roadtrip every spring and they needed dial-up, but they've flown instead of driving the last couple of years and haven't needed a modem in ages. I think it's time to put them on the free BYOA plan.

I'm wondering whether Time Warner is deliberately provoking customers to quickly devalue the company so they can show a huge 3rd quarter loss and sell the division cheap. They just moved their headquarters to NY and lost about half their experienced executives in the process. Whatever is going on, I suspect it's nearly the last death knell for AOL.

We’re writing to inform you that as a valued member, you will be upgraded to the AOL Basic Dial-up plan, as your current AOL price plan will no longer be offered. Your new monthly service charge will be $9.99.* You do not need to make any changes; your upgraded price plan will take effect on your first AOL bill after June 8, 2008.

This plan is a great value, providing you with all your current benefits and more -- saving you at least $5-$12 per month over standard prices for comparable plans from other major Internet services.

AOL Basic Dial-up includes unlimited dial-up service, allowing you to be online whenever you want, for as long as you want, with no hourly fees or overage charges. Plus, this plan includes 24/7 live technical support by chat or phone -- so we're always there when you need us.

[M A V I C]

Interesting. They bumped the BYOA plan up to $10 years ago. When did they drop it back down to $5?

[MacMagus]

> Interesting. They bumped the BYOA plan up to $10 years ago. When did they drop it back down to $5?

When the BYOA plan became free, the combo BYOA/limited-dial-up plan went to $4.99.

[M A V I C]

ah, ok.

[freeradical]

AOL was my first internet service provider - back when it was metered.

When they changed the TOS to $20 a month unlimited access, it became impossible to log on to do something as simple as checking e-mail.

That's when I dropped them...

[ztirffritz]

I quit using dial up when CompuServe went out of business.

[incognegro]

AOL is teh suck.

http://mac360.com/index.php/mac360/comme...no_to_aol/

"It’s 2008. Time For Mac Users To Just Say No To AOL."

I like this last bit:

Then I heard that famous AOL voice say, ”Goodbye.” I smiled, and responded with a polite ”and good riddance,” selected the AOL Desktop for Mac icon, and clicked delete.

[graylocks]

who here remember Prodigy? my first portal into cyberspace!

[freeradical]

[quote graylocks]who here remember Prodigy? my first portal into cyberspace!
No, but my parents used CompuServe for business.

[davester]

Well frankly, AOL was by far the ISP when they started out...and the were mac exclusively for quite a while. I still have my first aol screenname/address from those heady early days. I really have no complaints about aol. especially since they became free.