AOL began in 1985, originally founded as Quantum Computer Services. It officially became America Online in 1989. AOL has more than 34 million members worldwide and is widely acknowledged as one of the best Internet Service providers available. AOL currently has 21 million subscribers in the US, with a further six million in the UK, France and Germany through AOL Europe.

AOL had been a part of the massive Time Warner Inc. It has only recently split from Time Warner, and in 2010 it will announce it's first earnings report. Experts believe the report will be bleak reading, due to AOL's lack of innovation during the past five years. However, there are hopes that the company will be turned around and by 2011 their situation may paint a more rosy picture.

AOL's broadband business in the UK was sold to Carphone Warehouse in 2006 for £370m.