Apple Drops Support for Logging into the iTunes Store, App Store, and iBookstore With an AOL Account

[RaduTyrsina]

Apple is finally dropping support for logging into the iTunes Store, App Store, and iBookstore via an AOL username and password. The company has emailed users with AOL accounts attached to iTunes to indicate that login support will end on March 31, 2015. Here's how the entire email sounds like:

Our records indicate that you have been using your AOL Username to sign in to the iTunes Store, App Store, or iBooks Store.

After March 30, 2015, AOL will no longer support your ability to sign in to the iTunes Store, App Store, or iBooks Store. In order to continue using store features, including the ability to access your previously purchased content, you must transition from signing in with your AOL Username to signing in with an Apple ID.

To make this transition, simply sign in once more with your AOL Username to iTunes on your Mac or PC. You will automatically be taken through a few short steps to complete the process.

When the process is complete, your new Apple ID will allow you to continue to purchase and download music, movies, TV shows, apps, books, and more. Additionally, your Apple ID will allow you to access other Apple services, such as iCloud and the Apple Online Store.

This transition does not affect any AOL services you may be using with your AOL Username.

AOL Usernames which have not been transitioned to Apple ID will permanently lose access to the iTunes Store, App Store, and iBooks Store after March 30, 2015. Apple will be unable to provide support for AOL Usernames which are not transitioned by this date.

Apple has also added a support document to its website stating customers must convert their AOL username to an Apple ID account in order to maintain access following the deadline. You can follow the link at the end for the instructions on converting an AOL login to an Apple ID.

Users just need to login to iTunes with their AOL account and the conversion process will be offered. Also, you need to know that the conversion does not affect the main AOL account’s usage with AOL’s services.

Source: Apple

 

[Blue92]

I didn't think AOL was still around......

 

[twerppoet]

They just shut down TUAW (The Unofficial Apple Weblog), their Apple blogging site, and another game centric blog. What's left of both will be rolled into Engadget, which they own.

Since they are dropping most of their Apple friendly services, I suppose it's not surprising Apple decided to stop supporting them directly for Apple ID.

Or more likely, what ever agreement(s) they had with Apple have expired, and neither company sees a reason to renew.