On February 4, 2000, MindSpring Enterprises and EarthLink Network completed a merger transaction, creating the second largest Internet service provider in the United States. The new company is called EarthLink, Inc. and currently serves more than three million members. EarthLink, Inc. trades under the Nasdaq symbol "ELNK." For more information about the MindSpring/EarthLink merger, click here.

To better understand where the new EarthLink is headed, it is important look at how MindSpring and EarthLink began. EarthLink and MindSpring share similar backgrounds. Both companies started in 1994 as result of the frustration that founders Sky Dayton at EarthLink, and Charles Brewer at MindSpring, experienced trying to get connected to the Internet. The Internet service available at that time was difficult to install and technical support was virtually non-existent. Both Dayton and Brewer resolved to create an ISP that was truly user-friendly and reliable.

MindSpring and EarthLink even shared a common goal: "to create the best Internet experience for our members by focusing on delivering the basics of Internet service ­ a reliable network infrastructure, easy to use Internet software, and a friendly, knowledgeable customer service and technical support staff that are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week." The result was two awarding-winning ISPs, each with a loyal member base, dedicated employees and a record five years of phenomenal growth.

Central to each company was a basic philosophy for doing business based on integrity and respect for the individual and a dedication to customer service. These Core Values and Beliefs or CV&Bs, originally a MindSpring creation, dictate the way EarthLink will serve its customers, employees and the community.

For more information about the History of MindSpring before the merger, click here.
For more information about the History of EarthLink before the merger, click here.
For Letters from Charles Brewer, click here.