List of acquisitions by AOL explained

AOL is an internet company founded in 1985 as Quantum Computing Services.[1] Each acquisition is for the respective company in its entirety. The acquisition date listed is the date of the agreement between AOL and the subject of the acquisition. The value of each acquisition is listed in US dollars because AOL is headquartered in the United States. If the value of an acquisition is not listed, then it is undisclosed.

As of August 2013, AOL's largest acquisition has been the purchase of Netscape, a web browser company, for US$4.2 billion.

Netscape's browser was dominant, in terms of market share, but it had lost most of its share to Internet Explorer during the first browser war. By the end of 2007, the usage share of Netscape's browsers had fallen from over 90% in the 1990s, to less than 1%.[2] Its second-largest acquisition is the purchase of MapQuest, a web mapping company. From 1999 to 2009, MapQuest had the greatest market share among mapping websites; it has since dropped to second place, behind Google Maps.[3] [4] The majority of the companies acquired by AOL are based in the United States. As of April 2008, AOL has acquired 41 companies. Most of the acquired companies are related to the internet, including several internet service providers and web browsers.

In 2001, AOL merged with Time Warner to become AOL Time Warner. Due to the larger market capitalization of AOL, it gained ascendancy in the merger, with its executives largely displacing Time Warner's despite AOL's far smaller assets and revenues. AOL was spun off as its own independent company from Time Warner in 2009.

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Acquisitions

Acquisition dateCompanyBusinessCountryValue (USD)References
Redgate CommunicationsInternet service provider United States$[5]
BookLinkWeb browser United States$[6]
NaviSoftWeb server United States - [7]
Advanced Network and ServicesNon-Profit United States$[8]
MediorUser interface design United States - [9]
WAIS Inc.Search engine technology United States$[10]
WebCrawlerSearch engine United States - [11]
UbiqueVirtual places Israel$[12] [13]
Johnson-GraceData compression United States - [14]
ImagiNation NetworkOnline game United States - [15]
Global Network NavigatorWeb browser United States - [16]
CompuServeOnline service United States$[17]
Personal Library SoftwareSearch engine United States - [18]
MirabilisInstant messaging Israel$[19]
NetscapeWeb browser United States$[20]
When.comWeb-based calendar United States$[21]
MoviefoneFilm database United States$[22]
NullsoftMedia player United States$[23]
Spinner.comMedia player United States$
Gateway.netInternet service provider United States$[24]
TegicPredictive text United States - [25]
MapQuestWeb mapping United States$[26]
Quack.comVoiceportal United States$[27] [28]
iAmazeHTML editor United States - [29]
InfoInterActiveTelecommunications Canada$[30]
eVoiceTelecommunications United States - [31]
SingingfishAudio/Video search engine United States - [32]
Advertising.comOnline advertising United States$[33]
MailBlocksE-mail service provider United States - [34]
XdriveOnline file storage United States - [35]
WildseedMobile software United States - [36]
Weblogs, Inc.Weblog network United States - [37]
MusicNowOnline music store United States - [38]
TruveoVideo search engine United States - [39]
LightningcastInternet marketing United States - [40]
UserplaneSocial network service United States - [41]
GameDailyVideo game journalism United States - [42]
RelegenceFinancial services Israel - [43]
Third Screen MediaMobile advertising United States - [44]
AdtechAdvertising technology provider Germany - [45]
TacodaAdvertising network United States$[46]
YeddaSocial Search Israel - [47]
QuigoAdvertising network United States - [48]
buy.atAffiliate network United States - [49]
BeboSocial network service$[50]
Emurse.comResume creation & Job hunting site United States -
SphereWeb search engine United States - [51]
SocialthingSocial Network Aggregator United States - [52]
Patch MediaLocal search (Internet) United States - [53]
GoingLocal search (Internet) United States - [54]
MMAFighting.comMMA blog United States - [55]
StudioNowInternet video United States$[56]
Rally Upmobile applications United States - [57]
5Min Mediavideo syndication Israel$[58]
TechCrunchTechnology blog United States - [59]
Thing Labsmobile applications United States - [60]
Unblabemail United States - [61]
Pictelacontent marketing United States - [62]
About.mesocial networking United States - [63]
GoViralOnline video distribution$[64]
The Huffington Postnews United States$[65]
Outside.inLocal / News United States - [66]
Hipstermobile applications United States - [67]
BuysightProduct Level Retargeting United States - [68]
gdgtgadget reviews media outlet United States - [69]
Adap.tvVideo advertising United States$[70]
GravityNative advertising United States$[71]
ConvertroAttribution (marketing) United States$[72]
Precision DemandAttribution (marketing) United States$[73] [74]
VidibleVideo management and exchange platform United States$[75]
VelosPredictive analytics United States - [76]
Millennial MediaMobile advertising United States$[77]
Ashe AvenueWeb Development Group United States - [78]
Kanvas Labsmobile applications United States - [79]
AlephDPublisher Analytics France - [80]
20 April 2016RYOTImmersive Media Company and Virtual Content Studio United States - [81]

External links

Notes and References

  1. News: 2008-04-15. AOL: The internet company that grew up. BBC News. 2000-10-11. https://web.archive.org/web/20080107115804/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/597479.stm. 2008-01-07. live.
  2. Web site: 2008-04-15. Browser Statistics. W3Schools. https://web.archive.org/web/20080511203553/http://www.w3schools.com//browsers/browsers_stats.asp. 2008-05-11. live.
  3. Web site: 2008-04-15. Mapquest, Google and Yahoo! Maps: The Brand Issue. Hitwise. 2006-05-22. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20080520235128/http://weblogs.hitwise.com/bill-tancer/2006/05/mapquest_google_and_yahoo_maps.html. 2008-05-20.
  4. Web site: 2012-02-06 . Google Maps Surpasses Mapquest in Visits . . 2009-04-19 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20120324115755/http://weblogs.hitwise.com/heather-dougherty/2009/04/google_maps_surpasses_mapquest.html . 2012-03-24 .
  5. News: 2020-03-17. AOL BREAKS UP CORPORATE STRUCTURE REDGATE CHIEF LEONSIS WILL OVERSEE ONLINE SERVICE BRAND. The Washington Post. 1994-09-12. https://web.archive.org/web/20160314134422/https://adage.com/article/news/aol-breaks-corporate-structure-redgate-chief-leonsis-oversee-online-service-brand/90157. 2016-03-14. usurped.
  6. Web site: 2008-04-15. Inside Microsoft (Part 2). Business Week. https://web.archive.org/web/20080430074140/http://www.businessweek.com/1996/29/b34842.htm. 2008-04-30. dead.
  7. Web site: 2008-04-15. 7th USENIX Tcl/Tk Conference. USENIX. https://web.archive.org/web/20080509111521/http://www.usenix.org/events/tcl2k/loginsummaries/summaries.html. 2008-05-09. live.
  8. 2020-03-27 . ANS Sold to America On-line . https://web.archive.org/web/20150109055752/http://www.merit.edu/mail.archives/mjts/1994-11/msg00023.html . dead . 2015-01-09 . Merit Joint Technical Staff . November 24, 1994.
  9. Web site: 2008-04-15. Resume: Barry Schuler. Business Week. 2001-07-02. https://web.archive.org/web/20080213210609/http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/01_27/b3739175.htm. 2008-02-13. dead.
  10. Web site: AOL Buys Everyone. tidbits.com. 5 June 1995. en. 2017-05-24. https://web.archive.org/web/20170524022333/https://tidbits.com/article/1459. 2017-05-24. live.
  11. Web site: WebCrawler's History. www.thinkpink.com. https://web.archive.org/web/20051128091213/http://www.thinkpink.com/bp/WebCrawler/History.html. 2005-11-28. 2019-01-09.
  12. Web site: 2008-04-15. Ubique. The Yozma Group. https://web.archive.org/web/20080428014220/http://www.yozma.com/portfolio/company.asp?item_id=33. 2008-04-28. live.
  13. Web site: 2020-03-17. FORM 10-K 1996. SEC.
  14. Web site: 2008-04-15. ToyWar is over!. ToyWar is over!. https://web.archive.org/web/20110708201201/http://www.crashposition.com/blog/archive/2000/01/. 2011-07-08. live.
  15. Web site: 2008-04-15. America Online Acquires Imagination Network. Time Warner. 1996-08-06.
  16. Web site: 2008-04-15. Sample Business Contracts. FindLaw. https://web.archive.org/web/20080821144324/http://contracts.corporate.findlaw.com/agreements/excite/aolacquisition.html. 2008-08-21. live.
  17. Web site: 2008-04-15. AOL-CompuServe deal cleared. https://archive.today/20120905142647/http://www.news.com/AOL-CompuServe-deal-cleared/2100-1033_3-205177.html. dead. September 5, 2012. CNET. 1997-11-10.
  18. Web site: 2008-04-15. AOL Acquires Personal Library Software. Information Today, Inc.. 1998-01-26. https://web.archive.org/web/20080213071725/http://newsbreaks.infotoday.com/nbReader.asp?ArticleId=18018. 2008-02-13. live.
  19. Web site: 2008-04-15. AOL Buys Israel's Mirabilis. InterNetNews. 1998-06-08. https://web.archive.org/web/20080408081613/http://www.internetnews.com/bus-news/article.php/21011. 2008-04-08. live.
  20. Web site: 2008-04-15. AOL buys Netscape for $4.2 billion. https://archive.today/20120907050551/http://www.news.com/2100-1023-218360.html. dead. September 7, 2012. CNET. 1998-11-24.
  21. Web site: 2008-04-15. America Online Buys When Inc., an Internet Calendar Provider. New York Times. 1999-04-06. https://web.archive.org/web/20110123235840/http://www.nytimes.com/1999/04/06/business/america-online-buys-when-inc-an-internet-calendar-provider.html. 2011-01-23. live.
  22. Web site: 2008-04-15. Short Take: AOL acquires MovieFone. CNET. 1999-05-27.
  23. Web site: 2008-04-15. AOL buys Spinner, Nullsoft for $400 million. https://archive.today/20130129171341/http://www.news.com/2100-1023-226540.html&st.ne.fd.tohhed.ni. dead. January 29, 2013. CNET. 1999-06-01.
  24. Web site: 2008-04-15. Gateway closes AOL chapter with stock buyback. https://archive.today/20130104041753/http://www.news.com/Gateway-closes-AOL-chapter-with-stock-buyback/2100-1047_3-5436475.html. dead. January 4, 2013. CNET. 2004-11-02.
  25. Web site: 2008-04-15. Tegic gets its price from AOL, forgets idea of IPO. Seattle Post-Intelligencer. 1999-12-03.
  26. News: 2008-04-15. AOL to acquire MapQuest. CNN. 1999-12-22. https://web.archive.org/web/20081007153642/http://money.cnn.com/1999/12/22/deals/aol/. 2008-10-07. live.
  27. Web site: 2008-04-15. AOL Acquires Voice Portal Quack.com. https://archive.today/20120731082207/http://www.computerworld.com.au/index.php/id;920516229. dead. 2012-07-31. Computerworld. 2000-02-09.
  28. Web site: 2008-05-18. Firm finds connection with cell phones. https://archive.today/20120919025346/http://www.wickedlocal.com/sudbury/archive/x48002964. dead. 2012-09-19. Wicked Local. 2007-02-21.
  29. Web site: 2008-04-15. AOL Acquires iAmaze. InterNetNews. 2000-09-05. https://web.archive.org/web/20090321180906/http://www.internetnews.com/dev-news/article.php/452971. 2009-03-21. live.
  30. News: 2008-04-15. AOL Time Warner Agrees to Acquire InfoInterActive. The New York Times. 2001-05-19. https://web.archive.org/web/20101019145105/http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9E07E6DF163DF93AA25756C0A9679C8B63. 2010-10-19. live.
  31. Web site: 2008-08-05. AOL Has a Message for Local Phone Companies . The Street . 2001-07-16.
  32. Web site: 2008-04-15. AOL Buys Singingfish, Rolls Out More Search Changes. Search Engine Watch. 2003-11-19. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20080410191509/http://searchenginewatch.com/showPage.html?page=3110961. 2008-04-10.
  33. News: 2008-04-15. AOL Buying Advertising.com. The Washington Post. 2004-06-24. https://web.archive.org/web/20070808204814/http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A1989-2004Jun24.html. 2007-08-08. live.
  34. 2008-04-15. America Online, Inc. Announces Acquisition of Mailblocks, Inc.. AOL. 2004-08-03. https://web.archive.org/web/20140820230700/http://corp.aol.com/press_releases/2004/08/america-online-inc-announces-acquisition-mailblocks-inc. 2014-08-20. live. AOL.
  35. Web site: 2008-04-15. America Online, Inc. Announces Acquisition of Xdrive, Inc. AOL. 2005-08-03. https://web.archive.org/web/20140820232811/http://corp.aol.com/press_releases/2005/08/america-online-inc-announces-acquisition-xdrive-inc. 2014-08-20. live.
  36. Web site: 2008-04-15. America Online, Inc. Announces Acquisition of Wildseed, Ltd. AOL. 2005-08-07. https://web.archive.org/web/20140820225333/http://corp.aol.com/press_releases/2005/08/america-online-inc-announces-acquisition-wildseed-ltd. 2014-08-20. live.
  37. Web site: 2008-04-15. Post This: America Online Acquires Weblogs, Inc. AOL. 2005-10-05. https://web.archive.org/web/20140820225908/http://corp.aol.com/press_releases/2005/10/post-america-online-acquires-weblogs-inc. 2014-08-20. live.
  38. Web site: 2008-04-15. AOL Announces Acquisition of MusicNow. AOL. 2005-11-03. https://web.archive.org/web/20140820233331/http://corp.aol.com/press_releases/2005/11/aol-announces-acquisition-musicnow. 2014-08-20. live.
  39. Web site: 2008-04-15. AOL Acquires Truveo, Inc.; AOL Extends Leadership in Video Search…. AOL. 2006-01-10. https://web.archive.org/web/20140820233625/http://corp.aol.com/press_releases/2006/01/aol-acquires-truveo-inc-aol-extends-leadership-video-search. 2014-08-20. live.
  40. Web site: 2008-04-15. AOL LLC Acquires Lightningcast, Inc. AOL. 2006-05-17.
  41. Web site: 2008-04-15. AOL Acquires Userplane. AOL. 2006-08-13. https://web.archive.org/web/20140820232303/http://corp.aol.com/press_releases/2006/08/aol-acquires-userplane. 2014-08-20. live.
  42. Web site: 2008-04-15. AOL acquires GameDaily. CNET. 2006-08-16. https://archive.today/20120904161212/http://www.news.com/AOL-acquires-GameDaily/2110-1032_3-6106323.html. 2012-09-04. live.
  43. Web site: 2008-04-15. AOL Acquires Relegence Corporation. AOL. 2006-11-08. https://web.archive.org/web/20140820231432/http://corp.aol.com/press_releases/2006/11/aol-acquires-relegence-corporation. 2014-08-20. live.
  44. Web site: 2008-04-15. AOL Acquires Third Screen Media. AOL. 2007-05-14. https://web.archive.org/web/20140820235125/http://corp.aol.com/press_releases/2007/05/aol-acquires-third-screen-media. 2014-08-20. live.
  45. Web site: 2008-04-15. AOL Acquires ADTECH AG. AOL. 2007-05-15. https://web.archive.org/web/20080314161617/http://corp.aol.com/press_releases/2007/05/aol-acquires-adtech-ag. 2008-03-14. live.
  46. Web site: 2008-04-15. AOL Enters into Agreement to Acquire Behavioral Targeting Firm TACODA. AOL. 2007-07-23. https://web.archive.org/web/20140820234936/http://corp.aol.com/press_releases/2007/07/aol-enters-agreement-acquire-behavioral-targeting-firm-tacoda. 2014-08-20. live.
  47. Web site: 2008-04-15. AOL Acquires Questions and Answer Service Yedda, Inc. AOL. 2007-12-07.
  48. Web site: 2008-04-15. AOL Enters Into Agreement To Acquire Quigo, A Leading Site and Content-Targeted Advertising Firm. AOL. 2007-11-07.
  49. Web site: 2008-04-15. AOL Acquires buy.at Affiliate Network. AOL. 2008-02-05. https://web.archive.org/web/20080208162624/http://corp.aol.com/press_releases/2008/02/aol-acquires-buyat-affiliate-network. 2008-02-08. live.
  50. Web site: 2008-04-15. AOL To Acquire Global Social Media Network Bebo. AOL. 2008-03-13. https://web.archive.org/web/20080511173359/http://corp.aol.com/press_releases/2008/03/aol-acquire-global-social-media-network-bebo. 2008-05-11. live.
  51. Web site: 2008-04-15. AOL Acquires Sphere. AOL. 2008-04-14. https://web.archive.org/web/20080512021512/http://corp.aol.com/press_releases/2008/04/aol-acquires-sphere. 2008-05-12. live.
  52. Web site: 2008-08-15. AOL to Acquire Socialthing!. AOL. 2008-08-15. https://web.archive.org/web/20090501220351/http://corp.aol.com/news/2008/08/aol-acquire-socialthing. 2009-05-01. live.
  53. Web site: 2009-06-11. Aol to purchase Patch. AOL. 2009-06-11. https://web.archive.org/web/20100105071954/http://corp.aol.com/news/2009/06/aol-acquires-patch-and-going. 2010-01-05. live.
  54. Web site: 2009-06-11. Aol to purchase Going. Aol. 2009-06-11. https://web.archive.org/web/20100105071954/http://corp.aol.com/news/2009/06/aol-acquires-patch-and-going. 2010-01-05. live.
  55. Web site: 2010-09-28. Aol buys MMAFighting. PaidContent.org. 2009-07-15. https://web.archive.org/web/20100929004142/http://paidcontent.org/article/419-aol-tries-a-little-ma-jujitsu-buys-martial-arts-site-mmafighting/. 2010-09-29. live.
  56. Web site: 2010-09-28. Aol buys StudioNow. TechCrunch. 2010-01-25. https://web.archive.org/web/20100923065347/http://techcrunch.com/2010/01/25/aol-studionow-ted-cahall/. 2010-09-23. live.
  57. Web site: 2010-09-28. Aol buys Rally Up. TechCrunch. 2010-08-31. https://web.archive.org/web/20101003155221/http://techcrunch.com/2010/08/31/aol-rally-up/. 2010-10-03. live.
  58. Web site: 2010-09-28. Aol buys 5Min Media. TechCrunch. 2010-09-28. https://web.archive.org/web/20100929073418/http://techcrunch.com/2010/09/28/aol-5min/. 2010-09-29. live.
  59. Web site: 2010-09-28. We Got TechCrunch. TechCrunch. 2010-09-28. https://web.archive.org/web/20101001004758/http://techcrunch.com/2010/09/28/tim-armstrong-we-got-techcrunch/. 2010-10-01. live.
  60. Web site: 2010-09-28. Aol buys Thing Labs. Techc. 2010-09-28. https://web.archive.org/web/20101001004606/http://techcrunch.com/2010/09/28/aol-thing-labs/. 2010-10-01. live.
  61. Web site: 2010-12-23. Aol buys Unblab. TechCrunch. 2010-12-01. https://web.archive.org/web/20101222024735/http://techcrunch.com/2010/12/01/email-prioritization-app-unblab-acquired-by-aol/. 2010-12-22. live.
  62. Web site: 2010-12-23. Aol buys Pictela. TechCrunch. 2010-12-16. https://web.archive.org/web/20101223035531/http://techcrunch.com/2010/12/16/aol-acquires-content-marketing-platform-startup-pictela/. 2010-12-23. live.
  63. Web site: 2010-12-20. AOL snaps up About.me four days after launch. CNN. 2010-12-20. https://web.archive.org/web/20101222035304/http://money.cnn.com/2010/12/20/technology/aol_acquires_aboutme/index.htm. 2010-12-22. live.
  64. Web site: 2011-01-31. AOL buys GoViral for $96.7m. The Guardian. 2011-01-31. https://web.archive.org/web/20140714200429/http://www.theguardian.com/technology/2011/jan/31/aol-buys-goviral. 2014-07-14. live.
  65. Web site: 2011-02-07. AOL Agrees To Acquire The Huffington Post. The Huffington Post. 2011-02-07. https://web.archive.org/web/20110207110857/http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/02/07/aol-huffington-post_n_819375.html. 2011-02-07. live.
  66. Web site: 2011-03-04. Confirmed: AOL's Patch Buys Hyperlocal News Site Outside.In. TechCrunch. 2011-03-04. https://web.archive.org/web/20110304190622/http://techcrunch.com/2011/03/04/aol-outside-in/. 2011-03-04. live.
  67. Web site: 2020-03-17. Aol Snaps Up Hyper-Local Photosharing App Hipster. TechCrunch. 2012-03-15. https://web.archive.org/web/20130412010754/https://techcrunch.com/2012/03/15/aol-snaps-up-hyper-local-photosharing-app-hipster/. 2013-04-12. live.
  68. Web site: 2012-12-04. AOL's Advertising.com Group Acquires Retargeting Startup Buysight. TechCrunch. 2012-12-04. https://web.archive.org/web/20121207004943/http://techcrunch.com/2012/12/04/aol-advertising-com-acquires-buysight/. 2012-12-07. live.
  69. News: AOL acquires gadget community site Gdgt to tie it more closely to its founders' old home, Engadget . The Next Web . February 13, 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20130216100619/http://thenextweb.com/media/2013/02/13/aol-acquires-gadget-community-site-gdgt-to-tie-it-more-closely-to-its-founders-old-home-engadget/ . February 16, 2013 . live .
  70. Web site: 2013-08-12. AOL Buys Adap.Tv For $405 Million. Yahoo! Finance. 2013-08-07. https://web.archive.org/web/20150307054957/http://finance.yahoo.com/news/aol-buys-adap-tv-405-110800808.html. 2015-03-07. live.
  71. Web site: 2014-01-23. AOL Acquires Content Optimization Startup Gravity For $90.7 Million. Forbes. 2014-01-23. https://web.archive.org/web/20140127012010/http://www.forbes.com/sites/amitchowdhry/2014/01/23/aol-acquires-gravity-for-90-7-million/. 2014-01-27. live.
  72. Web site: 2014-05-06. AOL Extends Programmatic Leadership with Attribution Modeling in Deal to Acquire Convertro. Aol. 2014-05-06. https://web.archive.org/web/20140512222025/http://www.aolplatforms.com/blog/aol-extends-programmatic-leadership-attribution-modeling-deal-acquire-convertro. 2014-05-12. live.
  73. Web site: 2020-03-17. Precision Demand bought for $405 million. 2014-08-21.
  74. News: 2020-03-17. What Does AOL's Acquisition Of AlephD Mean? Q&A With ONE By AOL's Eldad Persky. Mediapost.com. 2016-03-18. https://web.archive.org/web/20160420181516/https://www.mediapost.com/publications/article/271474/what-does-aols-acquisition-of-alephd-mean-qa-wi.html. 2016-04-20. usurped.
  75. News: AOL Adds More Video Help by Buying Content Syndicator Vidible for Around $50 Million . Re/code . December 1, 2014 . December 2, 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20141204022941/http://recode.net/2014/12/01/aol-adds-more-video-help-by-buying-content-syndicator-vidible/ . December 4, 2014 . live .
  76. Web site: 2020-03-17. AOL acquires and shuts down predictive-analytics startup Velos. VentureBeat. 2015-06-08.
  77. Web site: 2016-01-27. AOL has acquired mobile ad tech company Millennial Media. Business Insider. 2015-09-03. https://web.archive.org/web/20160203162531/http://www.businessinsider.com/aol-acquires-millennial-media-2015-9. 2016-02-03. live.
  78. Web site: 2020-03-17. AOL acquires web development company Ashe Avenue. VentureBeat. 2015-08-24.
  79. Web site: 2020-03-17. AOL Acquires Photo And Messaging Startup Kanvas Labs. TechCrunch. 2015-08-31.
  80. Web site: 2020-03-17. AOL Acquires AlephD To Be Part Of Its Newly Unified Publisher Platform. TechCrunch. 2016-01-25.
  81. Web site: AOL buys virtual reality company to pair up with Huffington Post. CNET. 2016-05-02. https://web.archive.org/web/20160422173449/http://www.cnet.com/news/aol-buys-virtual-reality-company-to-pair-with-the-huffington-post/. 2016-04-22. live.