AOL

AOL Inc. (abbreviation, short for the former name of America Online; stylized version of the name - Aol.; pronounced "Hey-Ou-El") - American media conglomerate, provider of online services and electronic bulletin boards, AIM Internet pager.

History

2021: Apollo Global Management bought Yahoo

In early May 2021, Verizon Communications announced the sale of the media business to the investment company Apollo Global Management. The perimeter of the deal worth $5 billion included projects Yahoo, AOL, TechCrunch, Engadget, etc. More details here.

2017: Association with the Internet business Yahoo! within Oath

In July 2016, Verizon Communications announced its intention to buy the main Internet business of Yahoo!, which was previously supposed to be merged with AOL in the newly created Oath company. Two months before the close of the deal, in April 2017, Verizon announced the merger of Yahoo and AOL under the Oath brand.^[1]

2016: AOL Structure

For several years, AOL was rebuilt: non-core and unprofitable assets were sold, and at the same time new assets were purchased.

As a result of this approach, by January 2016, the company managed to:

• form a large portfolio of online brands - well-promoted sites with high-quality content;
• Create a high-performance IT platform for fast ad placement and management
• gain a foothold in the premium content segment, and strengthen its position in video and mobile markets.

AOL formed a business consisting of three divisions:

• Brand Group (in revenue 33%).
• Membership Group (in revenue 36%).
• AOL Networks (in revenue 31%).

Brand Group includes publications and mapping services.

Membership Group includes a set of services and sites that are provided on a paid and free basis by subscription:

• PC maintenance and maintenance support;
• Netscape and CompuServe Internet access services;
• antivirus and data protection software;
• mobile chat AIM application for AOL Mail.

AOL Networks includes:

• Advertising.com - the largest display advertising network in the UK and the USA;
• advertising platforms: Be On, AdTech, Marketplace, Adap.tv, Pictela;
• AOL On Video Advertising Network.^[2]

2015: Purchase by Verizon

On May 12, 2015, Verizon announced plans to purchase AOL for $4.4 billion ($50 per share), the transaction was completed on June 23.

2013: In the top 20 Internet giants by size of Internet audience

Internet companies by audience size

2010: Promotional Premium Segment Course

Under the leadership of the new CEO Tim Armstrong, AOL has since 2010 taken its course on the advertising premium segment and the development of services designed to promote brands.

2009: Independence from Time Warner

On May 28, 2009, Time Warner announced its separation from AOL as an independent company whose areas of interest will be the publishing business, film and television. On November 23, AOL introduced the updated logo created by Wolff Olins, the replacement took place on December 10 - the day AOL shares began trading as an independent company.

2006: Abbreviation to AOL

On April 3, 2006, AOL announced the abbreviation of its name from "America Online" to "AOL," the full name being AOL LLC.

2001: AOL Time Warner Education

In January 2000, AOL and Time Warner announced plans to merge into AOL Time Warner. According to the terms of the transaction, AOL shareholders (during the dot-boom, the former priority object for investment) received 55% of the shares of the combined company. The transaction was closed on January 11, 2001. The newly created company was led by representatives of AOL, SBI and Time Warner.

1995

Actress Mila Jovovich answers fan questions in the online chat company AOL, February 13, 1995.

1989: Renaming to America Online

In October 1989, the name of the Quantum service was changed to America Online. The product was promoted as an online service for users who are poorly versed in computers, as opposed to CompuServe, which enjoyed a good reputation among the technical community.

1985: Creating Quantum Computer Services

On May 24, 1985, Quantum Computer Services was created from the remnants of CVC by Chief Executive Officer Jim Kimsey.

1983: Founding of Control Video Corporation

In 1983, William von Meister, after Warner Bros. abandoned his project to sell music online, founded the short-lived Control Video Corporation (or CVC), the only product of which was the online GameLine service for the Atari 2600 game console.^[3]

Notes