AOL (formerly America Online) was one of the first internet service providers (ISPs) to emerge in the early 1990s. AOL’s “walled garden” approach to the World Wide Web limited users to certain material and restricted access to content outside of the garden’s “walls.” According to Information Week, this made AOL a useful beginner’s introduction to the Internet, but experienced users were largely critical of the restrictions. In August 2006, competing with free services such as Yahoo! and Hotmail, AOL announced the company’s decision to make email accounts and software free for members. Tips Writer Bio
