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America Online

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Revision as of 22:11, 16 November 2011 by Marie Cabural (talk | contribs) (→History)


Type: Public
Industry: Internet
Founded: 1983
Founder(s): William Von Meister
Headquarters: New York
Country: USA
Employees: 5860 [1]
Revenue: $2.417 billion as of 2010 [2]
Website: www.aol.com
Blog: Aol Blog
Facebook: AOL
Twitter: @AOL
Key People
Tim Armstrong, Chairman & CEO

America Online (AOL) provides global web services, tools, platforms and maintains content sites in different niche. The company also offers online advertising services for websites owned and operated websites by AOL as well as to third-party websites. AOL also provides subscription-based access service for consumers in the U.S.[3]

History

AOL started as an online gaming company known as Control Video Corporation (CVC) that was founded by William Von Meister in 1983. Its' only product was called Gameline, which was used by Atari 2600 players to download temporary games through a modem. When the game industry collapsed, CVC was nearly bankrupt. In order to save the company, its investors removed Von Meister as CEO. Jim Kimsey took over the position in May of 1985. He launched the company as Quantum Computer Services with Stephen "Steve" Case. He lead the company in providing online services which resulted to the development of Quantum Link (Q-Link) for Commodore 64 and 128 Models.Q-Link is a modification of the Playnet System. [4]

Steve Case was responsible in winning significant contracts such as the partnership with Apple Computer for the Apple Link and with IBM for the PC Link. In 1991, the company's name was changed to America Online.[5] The company went public on March 19, 1992 and offered its stocks for $11.50 per share.[6] During the same year, AOL launched the internet e-mail gate way which allows AOL subscribers to send and receive e-mails to internet users with interconnected systems from CompuServe, MCI Mail, AT&T Mail, AppleLink, Sprint Mail without creating separate accounts under those services. [7]

On January 11, 2001, America Online and Time Warner merged after the approval of the Federal Trade Commission on January 11, 2001.[8] [9] The company was named AOL Time Warner, Inc. AOL's Steve Case was named Chairman of the Board while Time Warner's Gerald Levine was appointed CEO.[10]

In 2005, AOL's Live 8 received an Emmy Award for non-traditional viewing platform. This made AOL the first internet company to receive the prestigious award.[11] The following year, the company decided to offer free web contents and services and re-branded its corporate identity from America Online to simply AOL.[12]

In 2009, the company's running man icon was included in the Madison Avenue Advertising Walk of Fame.[13] On December 9 of 2009, the board of directors of Time Warner approved of the company approved the spin off of AOL and became a separate and independent publicly traded company under the ticker sybol AOL at the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE).[14]

In 2011, AOL purchased the Huffington Post Media Group.[15]

Products and Services

AOL provides the following products and services:[16]

  • Content - The company maintains numerous sites that provide a wide range of contents in different industries including:
  1. Aol.com
  2. Autoblog
  3. AOL Autos
  4. Black Voices
  5. The Boombox
  6. The Boot
  7. Cambio
  8. AOL Desktop
  9. Daily Finance
  10. AOL Defense
  11. Ellen
  12. AOL Energy
  13. Engadget
  14. Everyday Health
  15. Games.com
  16. AOL Government
  17. AOL Real Estate
  18. AOL Travel
  19. Shoutcast
  20. The Huffington Post
  21. TechCrunch
  22. AOL Travel
  23. AOL Music and many more
  • Advertising-enables advertisers, publishers, companies and organizations to create awareness and establish their brand to their target audience or consumers through:
  1. Advertising.com
  2. Adtech
  3. AOL Video
  4. 5MIn Media
  5. goviral
  6. Pictela
  7. Content Solutions
  8. Sponsored Listings
  • Local- The company provides local contents, platforms and services using MapQuest and Patch.
  • Applications and Commerce- AOL continues to provide consumer applications such as:
  1. Mobile Applications (Engadget Distro, Moviefone iPad app, Editions by AOL)
  2. AOL Mail
  3. AIM
  4. about.me
  • Paid Services- AOL offers its subscription members with a VIP experience allowing them to purchase the products and service they need through Lifestore.com.
  • AOL Ventures- is the capital investment division of the company which provides start-up entrepreneurs the opportunity to grow.

References

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