AOL may soon open up its Internet services to non-subscribers as company
executives try to push profits up amidst the continuous exodus of its
dial-up customers.

If approved, any user with an Internet access would be able to sign up or
use any AOL service, including e-mail, free of charge.

The company stands to lose as much as $2 billion in income from online
service subscriptions. However, company officials believe that the gamble
would soon pay off as they expect advertisements to pour in once consumers
take advantage of the company’s free Internet features and other services.

Despite the plan, AOL dial-up clients would still have to pay their monthly
subscription charges.

The company is expecting around 8 million of its current dial-up clients to
drop their subscriptions to take advantage of the free services. It also
estimates that almost one-third of its 18.6 million customers already have
broadband Internet access.

AOL’s dial-up unit is experiencing massive customer loss to broadband
Internet. Around 850,000 subscribers opted out of their subscription
contracts with the company during the first three months of the year alone.

AOL’s Chief Executive Jonathan Miller has already transmitted the plan to
the top officials of Time Warner. The latter has yet to comment on the
proposal.