AOL surfs past 29m subscribers

New features on the AOL site have pulled in new users

America Online, part of the world's largest internet company, has reported that its subscriber numbers have surpassed 29 million.

In the last month alone, the AOL-Time Warner subsidiary has pulled in about one million new subscribers.

I think it's a little bit better than we expected

Robert Martin
Friedman, Billings, Ramsey

The amount of time that AOL surfers spend on the internet has also increased from a daily average of 64 minutes a year ago to 70 minutes.

"I think it's a little bit better than we expected," said Robert Martin, an analyst at Friedman, Billings, Ramsey.

"Whenever they report subscriber numbers, it factors into the revenue implications, but people generally believe that the subscription dollars will offset any weakness on the ad side."

Tech upgrades

The company attributed its additional customers to technology upgrades and new marketing partnerships with US stores such as Sears and Office Depot.

"We couldn't be more pleased with the strong membership growth," said Barry Schuler, chairman and chief executive of America Online.

"Through strategic marketing agreements with a wide range of partners, we're helping to bring more and more people online in the US and around the world," he added.

First quarter results

The company is due to report its first-quarter earnings on Wednesday.

US regulators approved the merger between America Online and Time Warner last January, nearly a year after the companies announced what was then the biggest merger in corporate history.

Prior to the approval, there had been widespread concern that the merged firm might limit consumer choice for internet content and access.