1985
Startup
AOL is born as Quantum Computer Services.
1989
Ping!
Instant Messenger launches. “You’ve got mail” alert debuts, enters catchphrase pantheon.
1991
Quantum becomes America Online
“There’s an AOL icon on your desktop”
-Los Angeles Times
1992
AOL goes public on NASDAQ
1992
First of many, many CD-ROM mailings
1993
AOL hits 500K members
This piece of concrete was taken from the floor of the first computer room for AOL in Vienna. Poured on December 2, 1993, it’s inscribed with key moments from the early days of the internet and the signatures of pioneering AOLers, including Steve Case.
1994
Sparked
Yahoo is created by Stanford Electrical Engineering students as Jerry and David’s Guide to the World Wide Web.
1995
Jerry and David’s Guide to the World Wide Web is Yahoo
The domain for yahoo.com was officially created on January 18, 1995.
1995
AOL hits 1 million members
1995
AOL.com launches
1996
Yahoo hits the NASDAQ with its first IPO
1996
AOL taps 5 million members
1996
AOL goes global
Launching in Germany, France, UK and Canada.
1996
AOL stock now trades on NYSE
1997
Yahoo purchases Four11 for $92 million
“Trying to increase user loyalty, Yahoo! is kicking off Yahoo! Mail, a free email service using Four11’s technology.” – Ad Age
1997
Yahoo’s US audience reaches 25 million users
1998
AOL Buddy List
becomes a part of the Smithsonian’s permanent collection.
1998
The film “You’ve Got Mail” premieres
Talk about product placement.
1999
Yahoo expands its global footprint
Yahoo launches editions in Taiwan, Singapore, Hong Kong, Brazil, China and Mexico.
1999
AOL acquires Netscape & Moviefone
2000
MapQuest enters AOL's portfolio
2001
AOL merges with Time Warner
to become the world’s largest media company—the internet bubble pops.
2002
AOL's global membership hits 34.6 million
2003
500B spam messages blocked by AOL in 2003
Two billion spam messages blocked in one day.
2004
AOL acquires Advertising.com
2005
Yahoo acquires photo sharing service Flickr
2005
AOL wins an Emmy Award
Live 8 receives the first-ever Emmy for content broadcast via the web.
2006
A rose by any other name
America Online, Inc. officially becomes AOL LLC.
2007
Yahoo mail celebrates its 10-year anniversary
Tied to the milestone, the company also announces it will offer unlimited email storage this year.
2007
Launch-o-rama
AOL launched and revamped dozens of websites—from general portals such as Music and Sports to specialty sites like Spinner for indie music and StyleList for fashion.
2008
AOL launches 14 iPhone apps, including AIM
2009
AOL's mascot: Running Man
wins a spot on the Advertising Walk of Fame.
2009
AOL spins off from Time Warner
Tim Armstrong takes the reins of AOL as CEO.
2010
AOL to buy TechCrunch
2010
AOL's acquisitions:
About.me, Pictela and 5min Media
2010
Launches
The new Moviefone.com, Cambio, Kitchen Daily and Project Devil interactive ad units, plus Lifestream for PC, iPhone and Android.
2011
AOL to buy Huffington Post
2011
Launches
Project Devil Portrait Unit launches, AOL content streams to TV sets via Boxee, Roku and Yahoo Connect platforms
2012
The Huffington Post wins a Pulitzer Prize
2012
AOL is best-performing internet stock of the year
Growth strategy results in AOL’s first revenue growth quarter in eight years.
2012
Devil recognized as IAB standard ad unit
2012
AOL launches
MAKERS, Hu ffPost Live, AOL On Network and AdLearn Open Platform
2013
Yahoo meets Tumblr
Yahoo acquires blogging platform Tumblr for $1.1b.
2013
Yahoo is once again the top trafficked online property
The July 2013 comScore report reveals Yahoo took the number one spot for the first time since 2011.
2013
AOL On Network offers first slate of AOL original series
2013
AOL to buy Adap.tv
2014
Makers launch on PBS
MAKERS, in collaboration with PBS, announces six new documentaries for 2014.
2014
2 Emmy nominations
AOL scored two nominations in the Outstanding Short Form Variety Series category for two shows: “Making a Scene With James Franco” and “Park Bench with Steve Buscemi.”
2014
TC steals the show on HBO
HBO’s critically acclaimed comedy series “Silicon Valley” prominently features TechCrunch Disrupt.
2014
AOL acquisitions & patents
Convertro, Gravity, and Precision Demand were all acquired this year—and AOL develops a patent for TV attribution.
2015
Yahoo acquires shopping site Polyvore.
Fashion, meet mobile e-commerce.
2015
Verizon acquires AOL
2015
AOL announces partnership with The Players' Tribune
2015
AOL acquires Kanvas
2016
Yahoo inks deal in sale to Verizon
The company will join forces with AOL.
2016
AOL's RYOT acquisition
2016
Makers UK and BUILD UK launch
2016
AOL partnership with NFL/Fox Sports
2017
New York BUILD Studio opens
2017