MindSpring

Charles Brewer started MindSpring in Atlanta in 1994, selling dial-up access over a modem to Americans who wanted to get on the web. It became known for a list of "Core Values and Beliefs" handed out to staff and customers, and for a support line where someone picked up the phone, which in that industry was close to exotic.

MindSpring grew by buying up smaller providers, including Netcom's subscriber base, and merged with EarthLink in 2000. The EarthLink name survived; the headquarters ended up in Atlanta. The merger created the second-largest ISP in the US just before broadband turned the whole dial-up subscription business into a wind-down.