COMPUSERVE APPOINTS JOEL DAVIDSON SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT OF MARKET DEVELOPMENT AND OPERATIONS

COLUMBUS, OH, November 11, 1999 - CompuServe, a subsidiary of America Online, Inc. (NYSE: AOL) and the fastest growing ISP in the value segment, announced today the appointment of Joel Davidson as Senior Vice President of Market Development and Operations, at the company's Columbus-based headquarters.

As CompuServe's Senior Vice President of Market Development and Operations, Davidson will be responsible for driving CompuServe's product marketing and CompuServe's Custom Solutions business. Building on his extensive brand marketing expertise, Davidson will help determine CompuServe's future product and service direction and look for new ways to work with partners to create co- and partner-branded ISP offerings. He will report to Audrey Weil, General Manager of CompuServe.

Said Audrey Weil, General Manager for CompuServe, "During this quarter, CompuServe has seen tremendous growth for CompuServe 2000 in response to our value positioning and consumer rebate offerings. We're extremely excited to have a world class professional like Joel on board to help us build on our position as the fastest-growing ISP in the value segment."

Davidson is widely experienced in packaged goods, telecommunications and consulting. Most recently Davidson was Group Vice President for Heinz' Pet Products Division in Cincinnati where he was responsible for brands such as 9-Lives cat food and Kibbles 'n Bits dog food. He spent two years as Executive Vice President for Rogers' Communications, the largest Canadian cable provider. He also spent nine years in marketing and sales roles for the Campbell Soup Co.'s US businesses in Camden, NJ, and running marketing and sales for Campbell's Canadian subsidiary in Toronto. Davidson holds an MBA and a BS in Economics from The Wharton School of Business, University of Pennsylvania.

CompuServe provides complete and comprehensive products, access, and innovative, value-oriented Custom Solutions applications for 2.2 million worldwide members at home, in the workplace and around the globe. CompuServe's recently upgraded CompuServe 2000 offers consumers faster Internet connections through V.90/56K bps access, easier installation and registration, expanded customization options, more powerful e-mail features, and simpler navigation all for $9.95 for 20 hours per month of connect time. In recent months, CompuServe has introduced several rebates to make owning a CompuServe and getting Internet access affordable and easy. Rebate partners include PC manufacturing partners HP, Compaq, eMachines and IBM and retail partners Circuit City, CompUSA and Office Max. In November, CompuServe will also introduce a rebate program for Apple computer users with partners CompUSA and J & R ComputerWorld. CompuServe also offers a comprehensive, yet easy-to-navigate Web gateway for CompuServe members and Internet users which is available at www. CompuServe.com.

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