AOL dumps Mac users

AOL has abandoned plans to develop a version of its browser for Apple's OS X operating system, claiming there just aren't enough users to make it worthwhile.

A beta test version of AOL 5.0 for Mac OS X was released earlier this year, but it's not compatible with the new version of OS X, 10.1.

To build an OS X 10.1 compatible browser, AOL claims it would have to start from scratch, and the company is currently "evaluating" whether it is worth spending money on this project.

The prospects, however, do not look good. An email from Dominic Wells, editor-in-chief of AOL UK, to all the beta testers said: "It is an unavoidable fact that Mac members make up an extremely small percentage of our members.

"We're a mass-market company and the mass-market computer of choice is the PC - so our priority has to be to develop new software for this audience."

An outraged silicon.com reader said: "Despite AOL having assured Mac users of its planned support for Apple's new OS, AOL UK have now officially cancelled their ongoing beta, apparently for financial reasons."

AOL declined to comment further on the story.