AOL Moves to Free

Time Warner Inc. on Wednesday said its AOL unit will no longer charge high-speed Internet users for e-mail and other Web services in a gambit to attract more viewers and boost online advertising.

The largest U.S. provider of Internet access has steadily lost subscribers to high-speed services offered by cable operators and phone companies, and hopes to counter that trend by tapping a burgeoning online ad market.

The AOL transition is set to be completed in early September. High-speed subscribers who have paid about $15 per month to use AOL's Web services will now get them for free.

AOL will still offer its slower dial-up Internet access and its Web features for about $26 per month but will not aggressively market the service.

The free services will include e-mail, instant messaging, a local phone number with unlimited incoming calls as well as safety and security features.

AOL aims to hold on to individuals who are considering moving to other Internet access services but want to keep their AOL e-mail accounts and other features, the company said.

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