AOL, Partners to Offer High-Speed Internet Access

America Online Inc., having lost more than 6 million Web access subscribers in three years, is teaming with high-speed Internet access providers including Verizon Communications Inc., AT&T; Inc. and BellSouth Corp. to stem further defections.

AOL customers will be able to buy high-speed Internet service for as low as $25.90 a month from Verizon, AOL said Friday. BellSouth customers will pay $29.50. AT&T; customers can also receive the high-speed AOL service for $25.90 a month, AOL spokeswoman Cindy Harvey said.

With 20 million members, AOL is the largest U.S. Internet access provider. It has lost subscribers since 2002 as users switched to broadband. Friday’s agreement may help slow subscriber losses, which came to 678,000 in the third quarter.