Menu
Home
People
Places
Arts
History
Plants & Animals
Science
Life & Culture
Technology
Reference.org
MSN Dial-Up Internet Access
open-in-new
<p>MSN Dial-Up Internet Access is an <a href="/facts/Internet_service_provider/dUacAxef">Internet service provider</a> operated by <a href="/facts/Microsoft/nGIDDXdx">Microsoft</a> in the <a href="/facts/United_States/P0sCdLe5">United States</a> and formerly also in several other countries. Originally named The Microsoft Network, it debuted as a proprietary <a href="/facts/Online_service/MSe2Ta87">online service</a> on August 24, 1995, to coincide with the release of <a href="/facts/Windows_95/1E1L93qC">Windows 95</a>. In 1996 and 1997, a revised <a href="/facts/World_Wide_Web/wvnTrWFq">web-based</a> version of the <a href="/facts/Internet_service_provider/dUacAxef">ISP</a> was an early experiment at interactive <a href="/facts/Multimedia/PtJteq27">multimedia</a> content on the <a href="/facts/Internet/Xw1rVvJU">Internet</a>. </p><p>Microsoft renamed the service MSN Internet Access in 1998, focusing its main '<a href="/facts/MSN/IxAzVWYJ">MSN</a>' brand on its <a href="/facts/Web_portal/Fj25GpUE">web portal</a> of the same name, <a href="/facts/MSN/IxAzVWYJ">MSN</a>.com. As of 2025, the company still provides <a href="/facts/Dial-up_Internet_access/gfhNU9s3">dial-up Internet access</a> under the name 'MSN Dial-Up Internet Access' for those who cannot access high-speed <a href="/facts/Broadband_Internet_access/EMbwSrnK">broadband</a>. For several years, MSN was the second largest dial-up ISP in the United States behind longtime leader <a href="/facts/AOL/MAbT38QS">AOL</a>, but very few people in the U.S. still rely on dial-up. </p><p>Along with dial-up service, MSN provides its subscribers with an @msn.com <a href="/facts/Email_account/6pD9GLtI">email account</a> to use with <a href="/facts/Outlook.com/I4sund79">Outlook.com</a> and <a href="/facts/Security_software/sftTWp7X">security software</a> such as <a href="/facts/Firewall_(computing)/Et2RkJaU">firewall</a> and <a href="/facts/Antivirus_software/GGMqsfkJ">anti-virus</a> programs. Separately from dial-up, Microsoft also offers these features as a standalone <a href="/facts/Subscription_service/CNForGLH">subscription service</a> for users with <a href="/facts/Broadband/nEn3A95N">broadband</a> Internet access around the world, named MSN Premium. </p>