List of acquisitions by AOL
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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 1999–2009, 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.
Not listed is perhaps the most notable 'acquisition', the 2001 merger 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.
Acquisitions
Acquisition date | Company | Business | Country | Value (USD) | References |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
August 1994 | Redgate Communications | Internet service provider | ![]() |
$33,000,000 | [5] |
November 1994 | BookLink | Web browser | ![]() |
$30,000,000 | [6] |
30 November 1994 | NaviSoft | Web server | ![]() |
— | [7] |
May 1995 | Medior | User interface design | ![]() |
— | [8] |
May 1995 | WAIS Inc. | Search engine technology | ![]() |
$15,000,000 | |
22 September 1995 | Ubique | Virtual places | ![]() |
— | [9] |
1 February 1996 | Johnson-Grace | Data compression | ![]() |
— | [10] |
6 August 1996 | ImagiNation Network | Online game | ![]() |
— | [11] |
25 November 1996 | Global Network Navigator | Web browser | ![]() |
— | [12] |
10 November 1997 | CompuServe | Online service | ![]() |
$175,000,000 | [13] |
26 January 1998 | Personal Library Software | Search engine | ![]() |
— | [14] |
8 June 1998 | Mirabilis | Instant messaging | ![]() |
$287,000,000 | [15] |
24 November 1998 | Netscape | Web browser | ![]() |
$4,200,000,000 | [16] |
5 April 1999 | When.com | Web-based calendar | ![]() |
$225,000,000 | [17] |
27 May 1999 | Moviefone | Film database | ![]() |
$525,000,000 | [18] |
1 June 1999 | Nullsoft | Media player | ![]() |
$80,000,000 | [19] |
1 June 1999 | Spinner.com | Media player | ![]() |
$320,000,000 | [19] |
October 1999 | Gateway.net | Internet service provider | ![]() |
$800,000,000 | [20] |
3 December 1999 | Tegic | Predictive text | ![]() |
— | [21] |
22 December 1999 | MapQuest | Web mapping | ![]() |
$1,100,000,000 | [22] |
2 September 2000 | Quack.com | Voiceportal | ![]() |
$200,000,000 | [23][24] |
5 September 2000 | iAmaze | HTML editor | ![]() |
— | [25] |
19 May 2001 | InfoInterActive | Telecommunications | ![]() |
$28,200,000 | [26] |
July 2001 | eVoice | Telecommunications | ![]() |
— | [27] |
19 November 2003 | Singingfish | Audio/Video search engine | ![]() |
— | [28] |
24 June 2004 | Advertising.com | Online advertising | ![]() |
$435,000,000 | [29] |
3 August 2004 | MailBlocks | E-mail service provider | ![]() |
— | [30] |
3 August 2005 | Xdrive | Online file storage | ![]() |
— | [31] |
7 August 2005 | Wildseed | Mobile software | ![]() |
— | [32] |
5 October 2005 | Weblogs, Inc. | Weblog network | ![]() |
— | [33] |
3 November 2005 | MusicNow | Online music store | ![]() |
— | [34] |
10 January 2006 | Truveo | Video search engine | ![]() |
— | [35] |
17 May 2006 | Lightningcast | Internet marketing | ![]() |
— | [36] |
13 August 2006 | Userplane | Social network service | ![]() |
— | [37] |
16 August 2006 | GameDaily | Video game journalism | ![]() |
— | [38] |
8 November 2006 | Relegence | Financial services | ![]() |
— | [39] |
14 May 2007 | Third Screen Media | Mobile advertising | ![]() |
— | [40] |
15 May 2007 | AdTech | Advertising technology provider | ![]() |
— | [41] |
23 July 2007 | Tacoda | Advertising network | ![]() |
$285,000,000 | [42] |
7 November 2007 | Yedda | Social Search | ![]() |
— | [43] |
7 November 2007 | Quigo | Advertising network | ![]() |
— | [44] |
5 February 2008 | buy.at | Affiliate network | ![]() |
— | [45] |
13 March 2008 | Bebo | Social network service | ![]() |
$850,000,000 | [46] |
28 March 2008 | Emurse.com | Resume creation & Job hunting site | ![]() |
— | [47] |
14 April 2008 | Sphere | Web search engine | ![]() |
— | [48] |
15 August 2008 | Socialthing | Social Network Aggregator | ![]() |
— | [49] |
11 June 2009 | Patch Media | Local search (Internet) | ![]() |
— | [50] |
11 June 2009 | Going | Local search (Internet) | ![]() |
— | [51] |
15 July 2009 | MMAFighting.com | MMA blog | ![]() |
— | [52] |
25 January 2010 | StudioNow | Internet video | ![]() |
— | [53] |
31 August 2010 | Rally Up | mobile applications | ![]() |
— | [54] |
28 September 2010 | 5Min Media | video syndication | ![]() |
$65,000,000 | [55] |
28 September 2010 | TechCrunch | Technology blog | ![]() |
— | [56] |
28 September 2010 | Thing Labs | mobile applications | ![]() |
— | [57] |
1 December 2010 | Unblab | ![]() |
— | [58] | |
16 December 2010 | Pictela | content marketing | ![]() |
— | [59] |
20 December 2010 | About.me | social networking | ![]() |
— | [60] |
31 January 2011 | GoViral | Online video distribution | ![]() |
$96,700,000 | [61] |
7 February 2011 | The Huffington Post | news | ![]() |
$315,000,000 | [62] |
4 March 2011 | Outside.in | Local / News | ![]() |
— | [63] |
4 December 2012 | Buysight | Product Level Retargeting | ![]() |
— | [64] |
13 February 2013 | gdgt | gadget reviews media outlet | ![]() |
— | [65] |
7 August 2013 | Adap.tv | Video advertising | ![]() |
$405,000,000 | [66] |
23 January 2014 | Gravity | Native advertising | ![]() |
$90,700,000 | [67] |
6 May 2014 | Convertro | Attribution (marketing) | ![]() |
$101,000,000 | [68] |
1 December 2014 | Vidible | Video management and exchange platform | ![]() |
$50,000,000 | [69] |
23 October 2015 | Millennial Media | Mobile advertising | ![]() |
$238,000,000 | [70] |
20 April 2016 | RYOT | Immersive Media Company and Virtual Content Studio | ![]() |
[71] |
References
- ↑ "AOL: The internet company that grew up". BBC News. 2000-10-11. Retrieved 2008-04-15.
- ↑ "Browser Statistics". W3Schools. Retrieved 2008-04-15.
- ↑ "Mapquest, Google and Yahoo! Maps: The Brand Issue". Hitwise. 2006-05-22. Retrieved 2008-04-15.
- ↑ "Google Maps Surpasses Mapquest in Visits". Hitwise. 2009-04-19. Retrieved 2012-02-06.
- ↑ Goldfarb, Zachary A.; Diaz, Sam (2007-09-18). "AOL Moving Executives, Headquarters To New York". The Washington Post. Retrieved 2008-04-15.
- ↑ "Inside Microsoft (Part 2)". Business Week. Retrieved 2008-04-15.
- ↑ "7th USENIX Tcl/Tk Conference". USENIX. Retrieved 2008-04-15.
- ↑ "Resume: Barry Schuler". Business Week. 2001-07-02. Retrieved 2008-04-15.
- ↑ "Ubique". The Yozma Group. Retrieved 2008-04-15.
- ↑ "ToyWar is over!". ToyWar is over!. Retrieved 2008-04-15.
- ↑ "America Online Acquires Imagination Network". Time Warner. 1996-08-06. Retrieved 2008-04-15.
- ↑ "Sample Business Contracts". FindLaw. Retrieved 2008-04-15.
- ↑ "AOL-CompuServe deal cleared". CNET. 1997-11-10. Retrieved 2008-04-15.
- ↑ "AOL Acquires Personal Library Software". Information Today, Inc. 1998-01-26. Retrieved 2008-04-15.
- ↑ "AOL Buys Israel's Mirabilis". InterNetNews. 1998-06-08. Retrieved 2008-04-15.
- ↑ "AOL buys Netscape for $4.2 billion". CNET. 1998-11-24. Retrieved 2008-04-15.
- ↑ "America Online Buys When Inc., an Internet Calendar Provider". New York Times. 1999-04-06. Retrieved 2008-04-15.
- ↑ "Short Take: AOL acquires MovieFone". CNET. 1999-05-27. Retrieved 2008-04-15.
- 1 2 "AOL buys Spinner, Nullsoft for $400 million". CNET. 1999-06-01. Retrieved 2008-04-15.
- ↑ "Gateway closes AOL chapter with stock buyback". CNET. 2004-11-02. Retrieved 2008-04-15.
- ↑ "Tegic gets its price from AOL, forgets idea of IPO". Seattle Post-Intelligencer. 1999-12-03. Retrieved 2008-04-15.
- ↑ "AOL to acquire MapQuest". CNN. 1999-12-22. Retrieved 2008-04-15.
- ↑ "AOL Acquires Voice Portal Quack.com". Computerworld. 2000-02-09. Retrieved 2008-04-15.
- ↑ "Firm finds connection with cell phones". Wicked Local. 2007-02-21. Retrieved 2008-05-18.
- ↑ "AOL Acquires iAmaze". InterNetNews. 2000-09-05. Retrieved 2008-04-15.
- ↑ "AOL Time Warner Agrees to Acquire InfoInterActive". The New York Times. 2001-05-19. Retrieved 2008-04-15.
- ↑ "AOL Has a Message for Local Phone Companies". The Street. 2001-07-16. Retrieved 2008-08-05.
- ↑ "AOL Buys Singingfish, Rolls Out More Search Changes". Search Engine Watch. 2003-11-19. Retrieved 2008-04-15.
- ↑ "AOL Buying Advertising.com". The Washington Post. 2004-06-24. Retrieved 2008-04-15.
- ↑ "America Online, Inc. Announces Acquisition of Mailblocks, Inc.". AOL. 2004-08-03. Retrieved 2008-04-15.
- ↑ "America Online, Inc. Announces Acquisition of Xdrive, Inc.". AOL. 2005-08-03. Retrieved 2008-04-15.
- ↑ "America Online, Inc. Announces Acquisition of Wildseed, Ltd.". AOL. 2005-08-07. Retrieved 2008-04-15.
- ↑ "Post This: America Online Acquires Weblogs, Inc.". AOL. 2005-10-05. Retrieved 2008-04-15.
- ↑ "AOL Announces Acquisition of MusicNow". AOL. 2005-11-03. Retrieved 2008-04-15.
- ↑ "AOL Acquires Truveo, Inc.; AOL Extends Leadership in Video Search...". AOL. 2006-01-10. Retrieved 2008-04-15.
- ↑ "AOL LLC Acquires Lightningcast, Inc.". AOL. 2006-05-17. Retrieved 2008-04-15.
- ↑ "AOL Acquires Userplane". AOL. 2006-08-13. Retrieved 2008-04-15.
- ↑ "AOL acquires GameDaily". CNET. 2006-08-16. Retrieved 2008-04-15.
- ↑ "AOL Acquires Relegence Corporation". AOL. 2006-11-08. Retrieved 2008-04-15.
- ↑ "AOL Acquires Third Screen Media". AOL. 2007-05-14. Retrieved 2008-04-15.
- ↑ "AOL Acquires ADTECH AG". AOL. 2007-05-15. Retrieved 2008-04-15.
- ↑ "AOL Enters into Agreement to Acquire Behavioral Targeting Firm TACODA". AOL. 2007-07-23. Retrieved 2008-04-15.
- ↑ "AOL Acquires Questions and Answer Service Yedda, Inc.". AOL. 2007-12-07. Retrieved 2008-04-15.
- ↑ "AOL Enters Into Agreement To Acquire Quigo, A Leading Site and Content-Targeted Advertising Firm". AOL. 2007-11-07. Retrieved 2008-04-15.
- ↑ "AOL Acquires buy.at Affiliate Network". AOL. 2008-02-05. Retrieved 2008-04-15.
- ↑ "AOL To Acquire Global Social Media Network Bebo". AOL. 2008-03-13. Retrieved 2008-04-15.
- ↑ "Emurse.com Crunchbase Profile". CrunchBase. 2014-09-05. Retrieved 2014-09-05.
- ↑ "AOL Acquires Sphere". AOL. 2008-04-14. Retrieved 2008-04-15.
- ↑ "AOL to Acquire Socialthing!". AOL. 2008-08-15. Retrieved 2008-08-15.
- ↑ "Aol to purchase Patch". AOL. 2009-06-11. Retrieved 2009-06-11.
- ↑ "Aol to purchase Going". Aol. 2009-06-11. Retrieved 2009-06-11.
- ↑ "Aol buys MMAFighting". PaidContent.org. 2009-07-15. Retrieved 2010-09-28.
- ↑ "Aol buys StudioNow". TechCrunch. 2010-01-25. Retrieved 2010-09-28.
- ↑ "Aol buys Rally Up". TechCrunch. 2010-08-31. Retrieved 2010-09-28.
- ↑ "Aol buys 5Min Media". TechCrunch. 2010-09-28. Retrieved 2010-09-28.
- ↑ "We Got TechCrunch". TechCrunch. 2010-09-28. Retrieved 2010-09-28.
- ↑ "Aol buys Thing Labs". TechCrunch. 2010-09-28. Retrieved 2010-09-28.
- ↑ "Aol buys Unblab". TechCrunch. 2010-12-01. Retrieved 2010-12-23.
- ↑ "Aol buys Pictela". TechCrunch. 2010-12-16. Retrieved 2010-12-23.
- ↑ "AOL snaps up About.me four days after launch". CNN. 2010-12-20. Retrieved 2010-12-20.
- ↑ "AOL buys GoViral for $96.7m". The Guardian. 2011-01-31. Retrieved 2011-01-31.
- ↑ "AOL Agrees To Acquire The Huffington Post". The Huffington Post. 2011-02-07. Retrieved 2011-02-07.
- ↑ "Confirmed: AOL's Patch Buys Hyperlocal News Site Outside.In". TechCrunch. 2011-03-04. Retrieved 2011-03-04.
- ↑ "AOL's Advertising.com Group Acquires Retargeting Startup Buysight". TechCrunch. 2012-12-04. Retrieved 2012-12-04.
- ↑ "AOL acquires gadget community site Gdgt to tie it more closely to its founders' old home, Engadget". The Next Web. Retrieved February 13, 2013.
- ↑ "AOL Buys Adap.Tv For $405 Million". Yahoo! Finance. 2013-08-07. Retrieved 2013-08-12.
- ↑ "AOL Acquires Content Optimization Startup Gravity For $90.7 Million". Forbes. 2014-01-23. Retrieved 2014-01-23.
- ↑ "AOL Extends Programmatic Leadership with Attribution Modeling in Deal to Acquire Convertro". Aol. 2014-05-06. Retrieved 2014-05-06.
- ↑ "AOL Adds More Video Help by Buying Content Syndicator Vidible for Around $50 Million". Re/code. December 1, 2014. Retrieved December 2, 2014.
- ↑ "AOL has acquired mobile ad tech company Millennial Media". Business Insider. 2015-09-03. Retrieved 2016-01-27.
- ↑ "AOL buys virtual reality company to pair up with Huffington Post". CNET. Retrieved 2016-05-02.
External links
- Official website of AOL