Computer Networks Overcrowding

America Online went offline again for about 45 minutes for some subscribers Wednesday as a technical snafu kept customers from connecting with the world's largest subscriber-based computer network. Subscribers weren't able to dial into the service between about 3 and 3:45 p.m. Pacific time, the company said. Customers who were already online using the service weren't affected.

America Online went offline again for about 45 minutes for some subscribers Wednesday as a technical snafu kept customers from connecting with the world's largest subscriber-based computer network. Subscribers weren't able to dial into the service between about 3 and 3:45 p.m. Pacific time, the company said. Customers who were already online using the service weren't affected.

America Online Inc., which more than 6 million people now rely upon for electronic mail, online discussion groups, news and access to the Internet, suffered a disastrous network-wide outage for nearly 19 hours Wednesday. The network finally resumed operation late Wednesday evening, but not before leaving angry subscribers muttering--and marveling--at how dependent they have become on computer communications. The problem began at 1 a.m. Pacific time, when Vienna, Va.

For online and Internet service providers and their growing legions of customers, the massive network outage that left more than 6 million America Online Inc. subscribers offline Wednesday was an unwelcome reminder that when it comes to reliability and service, the technology industry is caught between a rock and a hard place.

America Online, the hottest company in one of the hottest industries in America today, is getting burned by its own success. The company, which enables personal computer users to read the news, shop for merchandise or "chat" with other computers over the phone lines, said Tuesday that its own computers are so overloaded that it must limit the number of customers during peak evening hours.

For online and Internet service providers and their growing legions of customers, the massive network outage that left more than 6 million America Online Inc. subscribers offline Wednesday was an unwelcome reminder that when it comes to reliability and service, the technology industry is caught between a rock and a hard place.

America Online Inc., which more than 6 million people now rely upon for electronic mail, online discussion groups, news and access to the Internet, suffered a disastrous network-wide outage for nearly 19 hours Wednesday. The network finally resumed operation late Wednesday evening, but not before leaving angry subscribers muttering--and marveling--at how dependent they have become on computer communications. The problem began at 1 a.m. Pacific time, when Vienna, Va.

America Online, the hottest company in one of the hottest industries in America today, is getting burned by its own success. The company, which enables personal computer users to read the news, shop for merchandise or "chat" with other computers over the phone lines, said Tuesday that its own computers are so overloaded that it must limit the number of customers during peak evening hours.