Editing CompuServe (section)

== AOL acquisition and post–1997 history ==
[[File:CompuServe logo late.svg|thumb|right|Post–WorldCom-acquisition logo of CompuServe]]
The competition for customers between AOL and CompuServe became one of customers transferring back and forth, using free hours and other enticements. There were technical problems—the thousands of new generation [[U.S. Robotics]] dial-up modems deployed in the network would crash during high call volumes. For the first time in decades, CompuServe began losing money, and at a prodigious rate. An effort, code-named "Red-Dog", was initiated to convert CompuServe's long-time PDP-10 based technologies to servers based on Intel x86 architectures and the Microsoft operating system Windows NT.

Parent company H&R Block was going through its own management changes at the same time, beginning with the retirement of CEO [[Henry Bloch]]. A series of successors ensued. In 1997, H&R Block announced its intention to divest itself of CompuServe. A number of potential buyers came to the forefront, but the terms they offered were unacceptable to management. AOL, the most likely buyer, made several offers to purchase CompuServe using AOL stock, but H&R Block management sought cash, or at least a better quality stock.<ref>{{Cite web |title=AOL in talks to buy CompuServe |url=http://news.cnet.com/AOL-in-talks-to-buy-CompuServe/2100-1001_3-278592.html |access-date=May 26, 2015 |publisher=CNET }}</ref>

In February 1998, [[John W. Sidgmore]], then vice chairman of WorldCom, and the former CEO of [[UUNET]], devised a complex transaction which was ultimately satisfactory to all parties.<ref name="About Verizon 1998">{{Cite web |date=February 2, 1998 |title=WorldCom/Compuserve Merger Completed |url=https://www.verizon.com/about/news/worldcomcompuserve-merger-completed |access-date=February 21, 2021 |website=About Verizon}}</ref> Step one was that WorldCom purchased all the shares of CompuServe with $1.2 billion of WCOM stock.<ref name="Spokesman.com 2011">{{Cite web |date=October 8, 2011 |title=Compuserve Prepares For Buyout By Worldcom |url=https://www.spokesman.com/stories/1998/jan/03/compuserve-prepares-for-buyout-by-worldcom/ |access-date=February 21, 2021 |website=Spokesman.com}}</ref> The next day, WorldCom sold the CompuServe Information Service portion of the company to AOL, retaining the CompuServe Network Services portion. AOL sold its networking division, Advanced Network Services (ANS), to WorldCom. Sidgmore said at this time that the world was in balance: the accountants were doing taxes, AOL was doing information services, and WorldCom was doing networks.

WorldCom's newly acquired CompuServe Network Services was renamed WorldCom Advanced Networks, and continued to operate as a discrete company within WorldCom after being combined with AOL's network subsidiary, [[ANS Communications|ANS]], and an existing WorldCom networking company named [[Gridnet]]. In 1999, Worldcom acquired MCI and became MCI WorldCom, WorldCom Advanced Networks briefly became MCI WorldCom Advanced Networks. MCI WorldCom Advanced Networks was ultimately absorbed into UUNET. Soon thereafter, WorldCom began its spiral to bankruptcy, re-emerging as MCI.

CompuServe was changed to the version "CompuServe 7.0." in 2001.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |date=2023 |title=About CompuServe |url=https://www.compuserve.com/home/about.jsp |access-date=2023-05-02 |website=CompuServe |publisher=[[Yahoo! Inc. (2017–present)|Yahoo! Inc.]]}}</ref> In September 2003 CompuServe Information Service, which had become a division of AOL, added CompuServe Basic to its product lines, selling via Netscape.com.

=== 2006–present ===
In 2006, MCI was sold to Verizon. As a result, the organization that had once been the networking business within CompuServe is now part of Verizon Business.{{Citation needed|date=December 2024}}

In January 2007, CompuServe e-mailed members that [[Windows Vista]] was not supported, and suggested switching to the AOL-branded service. Like many older programs, however, CompuServe client software can operate with Windows Vista in [[compatibility mode]]. {{Citation needed|date=December 2024}}

While dividing CompuServe into its two major businesses, CompuServe Information Services and CompuServe Network Services, WorldCom and AOL both desired to make use of the CompuServe name and trademarks. Consequently, a jointly owned holding company was formed for no other purpose than to possess title to various trademarks, patents and other intellectual property, and to license that intellectual property at no cost to both WorldCom (now Verizon) and AOL.{{Citation needed|date=December 2024}}

CIS was then the value market-provider for several million customers, as part of the AOL Web Products Group. Recent U.S. versions of the CompuServe [[client (computing)|client]] software—essentially an enhanced [[Web browser]]—used the [[Gecko (layout engine)|Gecko layout engine]] (developed for [[Mozilla]]) within a derivative of the AOL client and using the AOL dial-up network. The previous CompuServe service offering, re-branded as "CompuServe Classic", remained available in the US and also in other countries where CompuServe 2000 was not offered.{{Citation needed|date=December 2024}}

CompuServe announced on April 15, 2009, that CompuServe Classic would "no longer operate as an Internet Service Provider" and would terminate on June 30, 2009.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Vaughan-Nichols |first=Steven J. |date=July 5, 2009 |title=So long CompuServe, nice to have known you |work=[[Computerworld]] |url=https://www.computerworld.com/article/2465911/so-long-compuserve--nice-to-have-known-you.html}}</ref> All CompuServe Classic services, including OurWorld Web pages, were taken offline as of that date. CompuServe Classic e-mail users would be able to continue using their CompuServe e-mail addresses via a new e-mail system.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Anthony |first=Robert S. |date=April 15, 2009 |title=It's Over! CompuServe Classic is Closing |url=http://paperpc.blogspot.com/2009/04/its-over-compuserve-classic-is-closing.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090423200135/http://paperpc.blogspot.com/2009/04/its-over-compuserve-classic-is-closing.html |archive-date=April 23, 2009 |access-date=January 31, 2020 |website=The Paper PC}}</ref><ref>[http://community.compuserve.com/n/pfx/forum.aspx?webtag=ws-cssoftware&nav=messages&tid=45145&tsn= CompuServe Forum Center<!-- Bot generated title -->] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090606233155/http://community.compuserve.com/n/pfx/forum.aspx?webtag=ws-cssoftware&nav=messages&tid=45145&tsn= |date=June 6, 2009 }}</ref>

In 2015, when Verizon acquired AOL, all of CompuServe's original properties became parts of Verizon.{{Citation needed|date=December 2024}}

CompuServe announced in November 2017 that the CompuServe Forums would be closed on December 15, 2017.<ref>{{Cite web |last=McCracken |first=Harry |date=November 14, 2017 |title=CompuServe's forums, which still exist, are finally shutting down |url=https://www.fastcompany.com/40495831/compuserves-forums-which-still-exist-are-finally-shutting-down |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171207014914/https://www.fastcompany.com/40495831/compuserves-forums-which-still-exist-are-finally-shutting-down |archive-date=December 7, 2017 |access-date=January 31, 2020 |website=Fast Company |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Gallagher |first=Sean |date=November 14, 2017 |title=CompuServe Forums, RIP |url=https://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2017/11/compuserve-forums-rip/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180223021640/https://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2017/11/compuserve-forums-rip/ |archive-date=February 23, 2018 |access-date=January 31, 2020 |website=Ars Technica |language=en-us}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=CompuServe's still-active forums are finally shutting down |url=https://www.engadget.com/2017/11/14/compuserves-still-active-forums-are-finally-shutting-down/ |access-date=January 31, 2020 |website=Engadget |date=November 14, 2017 |language=en}}</ref>

AOL used the CompuServe brand for CompuServe 2000 (a rebranded low-cost offering), which ended in 2011 (including Mac), and CompuServe Dialer (a low-cost dial-up ISP that became a [[Web portal]]).{{Citation needed|date=December 2024}}

{{As of|2024}}, Compuserve.com serves a rebranded version of the [[Netscape Internet Service]] Web portal.