RIP, AOL dial-up: Take a walk down memory lane to 5 other now-defunct tech icons that defined millennials’ youths

It’s an indelible sound for those above a certain age: a sequence of beeps, dial tones, static, droning, and screeching. Dial-up internet: the sound of going online.

After September 30, there will be one fewer dial-up internet option. AOL’s dial-up internet, after 30 years, is going the way of EarthLink and ceasing operation.

Even without AOL, at least three providers are still available — Juno, NetZero, and DSL Extreme.

AOL dial-up joins a list of other defunct technological wonders from the ’90s and early ’00s. Let’s walk down memory lane to visit these once ubiquitous pieces of tech.

AIM

Another AOL relic, AOL Instant Messenger, was sunset in 2017.

Launched in 1997, AIM was a social lifeline in the US, allowing instant messaging between friends.

It was also known for its iconic notification sounds, like the sound of opening and closing doors when friends came online or went offline.

However, competition from players like Facebook and the rise of SMS and WhatsApp started picking up in the 2010s, squeezing AIM.

Like all good things, the service saw its end in December 2017.

The BlackBerry and BBM

Owning a BlackBerry phone was like having a mini computer in your pocket before touchscreen phones were a thing.

BlackBerry’s smartphones, including the brand’s iconic 5810, were a hit device in the early 2000s. The phone, made by the Canadian company of the same name, had a full keyboard, could access and write emails, browse the web, and had its own messaging service called BlackBerry Messenger.

BBM was an instant messaging platform for all BlackBerry devices that was ahead of its time. It used unique PINs for each device instead of relying on phone numbers or emails.

It was the designated “It Girl” phone of its era — seen in the hands of Kim Kardashian and Lady Gaga.

However, BlackBerry discontinued its software in 2022, as competition from players like Apple grew stronger. It also stopped manufacturing its devices in 2016.

Netflix DVDs

Netflix is now known as one of the biggest streaming giants in the world, with over 300 million subscribers.

The company has humble origins as a DVD rental service. Launched in 1997, Netflix started offering movies for rent in 1998, mailing out bright red envelopes containing movie DVDs to households in the US.

As its streaming service gained traction, it phased out its DVD rental service. Its final discs were shipped out on September 29, 2023.

“After an incredible 25 year run, we’ve decided to wind down DVD.com later this year,” Netflix’s co-CEO Ted Sarandos said in a blog post in April 2023.

“Our goal has always been to provide the best service for our members but as the business continues to shrink that’s going to become increasingly difficult,” he added.

Internet Explorer

Internet Explorer was a web browser created by Microsoft in 1995. It became so popular that it became essentially synonymous with the internet. However, it soon faced fierce competition from other browsers like Google Chrome and Mozilla Firefox.

Internet Explorer was retired in June 2022, when Microsoft said in a blog post that support for the browser had ended. The company recommended that users switch to Microsoft Edge, a browser launched in 2020.

Skype

Skype walked so Zoom could run.

Skype launched in 2003, starting as a service that allowed users to make free voice calls over the internet.

By the 2010s — after Microsoft acquired it — Skype had become the go-to platform for making free voice and video calls while offering messaging and file sharing services.

Competition from players like WhatsApp, Zoom, FaceTime, and others grew stronger during the COVID-19 pandemic. Microsoft itself switched gears to focus on Microsoft Teams for enterprise use.

Skype was finally put to sleep in May.

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