America Online Surpasses 5 Million Members; Membership Increases Ten-fold in Two Years.

VIENNA, Va.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 6, 1996--America Online, Inc. announced today that it has passed the 5 million member mark, representing a ten-fold increase in just two years. The Company also disclosed statistics that clearly illustrate AOL's position as the world's leading Internet provider.

"If you think of AOL as an electronic community, AOL is now among the largest 'cities' in the world. As we reach this important milestone of 5 million members, we recognize that more people live in the AOL community than in many large cities across the globe. And more people now subscribe to AOL than to The Wall Street Journal, USA Today, and The New York Times combined," said Steve Case, Chairman and CEO of America Online, Inc. "We've been able to build a successful electronic community by listening to our members and staying focused on providing them with a more fun, friendly and engaging interactive experience."

"Consumers repeatedly tell us they want access to a broad range of content that is presented in an engaging way, easy to use, affordably priced, and with a strong underlying sense of community. They don't really care where the content resides, which network they happen to be using, or which technology is employed," Case continued. "For millions of consumers, going straight to the Internet can be a daunting experience. The process of getting connected is complex, finding relevant material is often confusing and time-consuming, and access to the Web is not a real option for the millions of consumers who are connecting at connect speeds lower than 28.8 kbps. That's where America Online's ability to put information in context, create communities, program content, manage transactions, provide customer support and optimize speed and performance in the delivery of engaging content can and does play a critical role."

As part of its strategy to reach a mainstream audience, AOL seamlessly integrates the vast content of the Internet, with the ease, simplicity and engaging presentation of America Online to offer an enhanced interactive experience for consumers. For someone wanting sports information today, for instance, they'll find a rich collection of compelling content that blends the best of the Internet -- such as the popular ESPN Web site and USA Today Sports Page, with the vast array of content provided by AOL's partners such as the NFL, ABC Sports, iGolf and others -- all brought together in one comprehensive and easy-to-find area online.

AOL's success in providing consumer access to the Internet is evidenced by usage statistics. Every day, AOL processes more than 28 million hits on the Web, delivers e-mail to 4 million people (half of which is Internet mail) and more than 5 million newsgroup articles are read each day by AOL members. The Company reported that Web usage only accounted for about 11% of total AOL usage in the most recent quarter.

"Clearly, there is interest in connecting to the Web, but there's even broader interest among millions of consumers in embracing the full AOL experience," Case added. "Our strategy of providing Internet access -- and a whole lot more -- is clearly resonating with the mainstream audience we are targeting. That will continue to be our focus in the years ahead, as we aim to bring the AOL experience to tens of millions of people throughout the world."

America Online, Inc., (NASDAQ symbol: AMER), based in Vienna, Va., is the largest and fastest growing provider of online services in the world with the most active subscriber base. AOL offers its more than 5 million subscribers a wide variety of services including electronic mail, conferencing, software, computing support, interactive magazines and newspapers and online classes, as well as easy and affordable access to services of the Internet. AOL has a global workforce consisting of more than 4,000 people. Founded in 1985, AOL has established strategic alliances with dozens of companies, including Capital Cities/ABC, Viacom, Bertelsmann, Hachette, IBM, Compaq and American Express. Personal computer owners can obtain America Online software at major retailers and bookstores, or by calling 800-827-6364.

CONTACT: America Online

Pam McGraw, 703/556-3746