[wguru]

I've been using AOL's sibling (netscape) and now that I've added my Verizon DSL, I'd like to drop netscape's $9.95 monthly fee but would like to keep my netscape e-mail address and still be able to get my e-mails on my OE6.

Possible?

[wguru]

After some three (more like 4) hours of calls to Verizon and even AOL, I'm finding that your article which (as I read it) indicates that AOL users (after coordinating the e-mail "migration" with Verizon DSL) can thereafter 'drop AOL' and save money (assumedly by dropping AOL as an ISP) and yet still retain the benefit of having their (then) 'old' AOL e-mails migrated into Verizon DSL, but after speaking with Verizon DSL customer support repeatedly (so as to clearly get the same answers), I'm told that as soon as one drops AOL, the migrations of AOL's e-mails will stop, plus Verizon is only offering that deal "if" your are a current AOL customer and do "not" already have Verizon DSL. Ahem.

Perhaps later post here (saying not all areas for Verizon DSL/AOL are participating) explains what I'm finding here in southern California?

Plus AOL will not provide any support for it's free AOL e-mail accounts. Long of the short of it in the case where anyone wants to migrate AOL e-mails into Verizon, they seem to be able to do so only if they do not have Verizon DSL, do have AOL as an ISP and obtain Verizon DSL thru AOL before attempting to migrate AOL e-mail into Verizon DSL (which will only continue as long as one keeps forking out AOL isp monies).

I hope this isn't true everywhere.

And as far as anyone having only netscape (wanting to find out if they can get that e-mail migrated even if only when still paying that isp), there isn't enough daylight left for me to even begin to come close to answering that question. Grrr.

[Mulderator]

Originally Posted by wguru

After some three (more like 4) hours of calls to Verizon and even AOL, I'm finding that your article which (as I read it) indicates that AOL users (after coordinating the e-mail "migration" with Verizon DSL) can thereafter 'drop AOL' and save money (assumedly by dropping AOL as an ISP) and yet still retain the benefit of having their (then) 'old' AOL e-mails migrated into Verizon DSL, but after speaking with Verizon DSL customer support repeatedly (so as to clearly get the same answers), I'm told that as soon as one drops AOL, the migrations of AOL's e-mails will stop, plus Verizon is only offering that deal "if" your are a current AOL customer and do "not" already have Verizon DSL. Ahem.

Perhaps later post here (saying not all areas for Verizon DSL/AOL are participating) explains what I'm finding here in southern California?

Plus AOL will not provide any support for it's free AOL e-mail accounts. Long of the short of it in the case where anyone wants to migrate AOL e-mails into Verizon, they seem to be able to do so only if they do not have Verizon DSL, do have AOL as an ISP and obtain Verizon DSL thru AOL before attempting to migrate AOL e-mail into Verizon DSL (which will only continue as long as one keeps forking out AOL isp monies).

I hope this isn't true everywhere.

And as far as anyone having only netscape (wanting to find out if they can get that e-mail migrated even if only when still paying that isp), there isn't enough daylight left for me to even begin to come close to answering that question. Grrr.

That's NOT true. You are getting bad information from either Verizon or AOL. In fact, you can got to AOL and on their own web site is a link to cancel your subscription, but keep your AOL account.

Of course you won't get support, however, they have an option to pay a monthly fee (I think its about $5.00) for tech support if you want it.

Verizon has absolutely nothing to do with it--they don't have to be involved. You don't "migrate" your accounts to Verizon, you simply use them as an ISP (i.e., for access to the Internet) and then go to AOL's web site and sign in there for E-mail. Verizon doesn't even know you're doing it nor do they care--its no different now than having a Yahoo or Hotmail account, which are also free.

[Mulderator]

Here is the link:

http://help.aol.com/aimhelp/dynamick...rticleId221874

Welcome to the New AOL
The Purpose
FAQs

Welcome to the New AOL

We’re introducing some exciting changes at AOL to give you more choice and control over your Internet experience because we value your membership.

For over twenty years AOL was the place people went for their Internet connection. Now people have choices in how they get online – whether it’s DSL, cable or dial-up. And as consumer needs evolve, AOL wants to be there to help all Internet users, including our valued members, get the most out of their online experience.

You have the option to access the AOL® service including your AOL® e-mail, content, and services for free regardless of who provides your Internet connectivity. There’s no catch or commitment: this is our way of letting you enjoy many of AOL's services for free for as long as you'd like to use them.

So as long as you have a way to connect to the Internet with AOL or another provider:

Your AOL® e-mail address is yours to keep as long as you like
Your familiar AOL® software is yours to use as long as you like
You will be able to access all your favorite content on AOL.com
And, AOL will continue to help protect you from online hackers, spammers, and identity thieves with the most comprehensive set of safety and security tools

We hope you will still continue to get your Internet connectivity through AOL. And we will continue to offer our dial-up and broadband access plans, which include 24/7 customer support, unlimited e-mail storage and some terrific new features that we will be announcing later in the year. We do not anticipate significant changes to the advertising and pop-up policies in place on the aol.com Web site and throughout the AOL service.

For more information about these changes and to sign up to receive notification. These are exciting times. Thank you for being a valued AOL member.

In that link you'll find a link, you'll find another link to "Live Help" and as an account holder, they will help you cancel your account and will give you information if you want to continue to have access to Tech support for a monthly fee--frankly, I don't think its worth it, but the decision is up to you.

So--what I would do is sign up for Verizon DSL (or other high speed provider)--don't even mention AOL. Once you get your new internet access, cancel AOL but keep your AOL account. Then, to manage your e-mail, go to AOL's web site and sign in under the "Mail" link as you normally would. You can also use AOL's software, although I would get rid of that and just use the online, but that's me.

[wguru]

All I'm posting is what I repeatedly was told. I'm still holding out what you say is true but I'm unable to get Verizon to tell me that, nor am I yet able to get ahold of netscape or aol to ask them, but now I need a rest. Will post back with the continuing saga tommorrow.

Thanks again for the reply.

Again, still hoping to receive my netscape e-mails while haiving dumped them as an isp as I'm perfectly happy using verizon dsl (despite the consistently poor service I get from their cus srvc, for both phone and dsl).

[sekirt]

I'd like to drop netscape's $9.95 monthly fee but would like to keep my netscape e-mail address and still be able to get my e-mails on my OE6.

wguru

The "new" setup with AOL would not include POP3 email, if I understand Mulder's post. Only Web Based email with the same address.

[wacor]

Thanks for the info Mulder

now i gotta figure out how to get DSL at work. I have multiple phone lines and an old Merlin system. not sure how to put DSL filters on all the phones. I have a hunch but not sure

[Mulderator]

Originally Posted by sekirt

wguru

The "new" setup with AOL would not include POP3 email, if I understand Mulder's post. Only Web Based email with the same address.

No, I didn't say that, I just don't want to confuse him. Its real easy to use online e-mail--nothing to setup--just login and youve got it.

However, according to MS, you can set up Outlook Express to receive and send AOL e-mail:

http://support.microsoft.com/default...b;EN-US;883081

I don't see why that would not work with other e-mail programs as well.

[Mulderator]

Originally Posted by wguru

All I'm posting is what I repeatedly was told. I'm still holding out what you say is true but I'm unable to get Verizon to tell me that, nor am I yet able to get ahold of netscape or aol to ask them, but now I need a rest. Will post back with the continuing saga tommorrow.

Thanks again for the reply.

Again, still hoping to receive my netscape e-mails while haiving dumped them as an isp as I'm perfectly happy using verizon dsl (despite the consistently poor service I get from their cus srvc, for both phone and dsl).

Trust me--set up your new DSL and then call AOL and TELL THEM, don't ask them that you want to cancel your AOL service but you want to keep your e-mail account under their new free option. If the person tells you you can't ask to speak to a supervisor. There is also a way to cancel your service online, but since I'm not an AOL subscriber, I can't link to it.

[sekirt]

Originally Posted by Mulder

Well, you can keep your AOL account now and use their web based e-mail--or install their software, which I don't recommend, on your computer.

Yes that MS article applies to IMAP (AOL) email - when I checked the AOL site, it also says web-based email. I think that means no Outlook Express. Can you show me something at AOL that says otherwise?

[cxm322]

You said it. But there are many people that will even upgrade to a high speed ISP, yet keep the AOL interface because they love AOL (eeeeew!) My neighbor is one of them.

When the cheap Verizon DSL package was finally available in my area, I dropped my cable ISP and went with Verizon for $14.95/mo. I realized that I would be losing some speed (and uploading is SLOW AS HELL WITH THE $14.95/mo Verizon DSL package) but I had to do it to save money. My cable ISP was only $39.95/mo, which is cheap for a cable connection, but it is too expensive for my blood right now.

So I told my neighbor, who is poorer than I am and always complaining about it and who just recently bought a computer at that time and was using AOL dialup, and she said she'd look into it because it is cheaper than AOL dialup.

Well, weeks later, she told me she finally ordered Verizon's $14.95/mo package. I told her "good for you. you'll save a lot of money and have a faster connection".

Well, it turns out that she decided to still keep using AOL for $12.95/mo (on top of the $14.95/mo for Verizon). That adds up to almost $28/mo, which is more expensive than she was paying before with just AOL dialup. I always knew she was not very bright, but this just takes the cake.

But I realized after a few more weeks that she needs AOL. You see. As I said, she isn't very bright so the AOL interface is her crutch. All she knows how to do is use the AOL interface to surf the internet, use AOL's IM and chatrooms, and well, cheat on her husband.

What's my point, there will always be a need for AOL because, besides there will always be dumb people that will buy it, for whatever reason.

Another moral of the story here is that, regardless of what some people think and believe, you can never get rid of poverty and the lower class. They will always be around because they know nothing else and are comfortable with it. And again, because of this alone, AOL will continue to sell service.

[cxm322]

BTW, on a more serious note, there is one reason why you should not buy Verizon DSL.

Their email is very unreliable. You don't get all of your emails. There is nothing that can be done about this (believe me, I tried. All you get is the runaround with Verizon tech support when you call about it). Their spam filters are TOO powerful and they filter out legit emails. Mostly, any site that is a forum like this one, you will not get your emails from the forum, like activation emails etc). However, I do get emails from this forum to my Verizon address, however I am a member of 13 forums and I do not get forum emails from these other forums to my Verizon email address. I also do not get emails from my domaintools.com account either.

You get what you pay for. I have never had an ISP that blocked emails like this., It's quite annoying. And apparently it's not just me because many people have complained about this on DSLreports.com.

So, if you do buy Verizon DSL, forget about using the email addresses they give you. They can be worthless much of the time.

[bobol]

Originally Posted by wguru

All I'm posting is what I repeatedly was told. .........

Personally, one thing I've learned with support of various internet companies is the different answers from different representatives you'll get on the same question. Thats the confusing part- which one to believe if you don't get the sense who may actually be right. Sometimes better to ask speak to their manager- and see what their version is.

[JBP198780]

i had AOL from like 2002-2004, as soon as i got my GX110 in the summer of '04 i switched 2 DSL..

been wit them ever since...

[dungeonguard]

One of my friends has AOL and let me just say I absolutely hate it. He currently has Time Warner Cable's Road Runner Internet service, but I don't know why he continues to pay for AOL. The software is cheap, it takes up lots of space, and is pretty useless. I mean, I'd rather have 10 applications than AOL. Seriously.