Millions of American Internet users will be paying more for their connections by July after AOL announced it was increasing its prices by 9 per cent. The move could generate an additional £350 million annually for the media giant.
The price increases will not affect Irish customers, a spokesman confirmed.
Analysts said that AOL should see very little customer defections from the move, however, citing the higher charges subscribers are already paying for the premium content the world's largest on-line service offers.
From July, customers who subscribe to AOL's Unlimited Use plan will pay £16.70 a month in the US, an increase of £1.35 a month.
About 75 per cent of AOL's 29 million customers subscribe to the unlimited plan, analysts said.
Major competitors said they plan to keep their prices the same, and will use the increase in an attempt to syphon off price-conscious AOL members.
AOL's other pricing plans will not be affected by the change. AOL subscribers can pay as little as £3.50 a month for a plan that allows three hours of on-line time per month or as much as about £28 a month, depending on the company's contract with local telephone providers, for a broadband plan that provides high-speed service.
AP