This article contains important information about some updates we are making to your service. We will be making improvements to our network over the next few months, and some of these may affect you.

Information about these network improvements:

Your connectivity software will be upgraded

Every time you connect to our network, you do so using the AOL Connectivity Service (ACS) which is currently part of the AOL software. We have made some refinements to the existing version of ACS and will be sending a software upgrade to all our customers over the coming months.

What do I need to do?
1. You will receive a pop-up on your screen. Click the Update Now button to install the new ACS software.



Note: You will see this pop-up every time you connect to the internet until you click Update Now.

2. The installation may take up to 5 minutes.



3. Once the installation is complete you may be asked to restart your computer. Click Yes, restart to restart your computer.



Note: This update will not affect your AOL software, it is just an update of the way your computer connects to the internet.


Your connection will be moved to our new network

Note: This section is not applicable if you use a modem router to connect to the internet (eg Netgear DG834G/Thomson SpeedTouch).

Once the upgrade of your connectivity software is complete, we will move your connection to our new network. We aim to carry this work out within six weeks of the connectivity software upgrade.

What do I need to do?
1. You will be notified by pop-up just before your upgrade is due to take place. This will appear on your screen as you sign out of the AOL software. Click OK to download the software required to connect you to our new network.



2. You will need to be online with the AOL software to allow us to move your connection to our new network.

Please note that we will be unable to move your connection to our new network if a) you are signed in to the AOL software as a 'guest' or b) if you are not logged on to your main Windows user account (also known as the Administrator account).

It is important that you do not interrupt the installation of this update as this could lead to the eventual risk of losing your internet connection completely.

Are you running an older version of Windows?
There are certain versions of Microsoft Windows that will require a different network upgrade process. If your computer is running Windows 95, Windows 2000 or is an Apple Mac, your connection will be moved later in Spring 2008.
-- How do I determine my Windows version?


Services affected on the new network

You should not notice any obvious differences when connecting to our new network. You can still sign in to the AOL software and access your emails and content using the same details as before. However, there are some services that will be affected:

1. All customers: Parental Controls - introducing Internet Access Controls
Parental Controls have been a fundamental part of our internet service for many years. The safety and security of our customers and their children will always be of great importance to us.

Parental Controls were designed for use with our current network. As we are moving to a new network, we will need to provide you with additional software, Internet Access Controls, so we can continue to help protect your children from online threats if they surf the internet using a browser other than the AOL software.

Internet Access Controls (IAC) are designed to work alongside Parental Controls. They reduce the risk of children encountering potential threats or inappropriate websites by requiring password access to internet related programs on your computer.

2. Broadband customers only: Accessing dial-up through the AOL software
There may have been occasions where you have accessed a dial-up connection, using an 0845 pay as you go number, which is usually possible using the AOL software. As we mentioned in our terms and conditions update notice, dial-up access to the internet for broadband using an 0845 number will eventually be removed from direct use. An equivalent service will still be possible in certain circumstances if you notify us - for example if your broadband connection fails for any reason.

3. Dial-up customers only:
i Do you use your dial-up access when travelling?
If you are a dial-up customer and like to use your connection in another household, or when travelling, the process for doing so will be different on the new network and will no longer work directly through the AOL software. To use this service in the future, you will need to contact Member Services each time.

ii Caller ID
If you normally block your telephone number from view on caller ID displays, this will be overridden by the new network in order to allow you to use the AOL Access dial-up service. Please rest assured that your number will not be shown to any third party or affect how your number is hidden during any telephone calls you make.