AOL (America Online) was an American online service provider and media company. The company was founded in 1985 as Control Video Corporation and was based in Dulles, Virginia. AOL was one of the first and most popular internet service providers (ISPs) in the United States, providing dial-up internet access to millions of customers through its proprietary software. The company also offered a wide range of other services such as email, instant messaging, and online content through its AOL.com portal.