Action Required: Your AOL Username login must transition to Apple ID

No.

Barry

Actually, it is correct. There is a valid Apple Support document that was just referenced by another post. Convert your AOL Username to an Apple ID - Apple Support

Interesting....in context, that is. I use AOL, but it never occurred to me that an AOL screen name could be used to sign on to an Apple Store.

Barry

Evidently something new. There a quite a number of posts starting to show up about it. I find it interesting that the support document is dated Feb 10, but it has taken this long to get it out to customers and have them start asking questions.

If you do not want to follow the link that I posted, to a legitimate Apple Support document, that is up to you. I've provided information that was able to find on the Apple website and put it out there for people to read. I guess you can wait and find out what happens on March 31.

AryeDirect wrote:

Not following the link in the e-mail, I signed into my regular account using my aol sign-in as usual. It was accepted without any further prompting to change it. So I think the notification is a phfishing scam.

According to the (legitimate) Help page linked to above your AOL screen name will continue to work until the end of March but won't after that. The implication is that if you do not change it before then it won't work at all after March.

My Apple ID is currently my AOL screen name with my email extension (In other words, my ID is my AOL email address). According to what I am reading about transitioning to an Apple ID, my Apple ID should be an email address where communications from ITunes can be sent. That would be my AOL email address which puts me back to step one again. What should I do? Does the Apple ID itself have to be an email address and if not, how will communications be sent to me if I don't provide my AOL email address as my ID? Thanks

I also have my AOL email address as my Apple ID and I logged in and was not prompted to do anything. I think they mean if your Apple ID is your AOL screen name (i.e. without the @aol.com at the end of it), then you need to change it. I think if your ID is your complete AOL email address, you're fine.

Anyone else agree?

It is necessary for some uses of an Apple ID for it to be an actual email address, and advisable in any case. If the OP's AOL address is working then I would have thought it was OK, but if he is getting a notice about changing it, it might be wise to change it to another functioning address to be on the safe side (a free one from GMail or Yahoo would do).

And then what? On April 1, Apple is inundated with calls from users who can't access their accounts, and AOL refuse to support and everything is gone, dead, kaputt forever?

In a way this made some sense, until I remembered that I have been clearly told by Apple:

"Our records indicate that you have been using your AOL Username to sign in to the iTunes Store, App Store or iBooks Store.

After the 30th March 2015, AOL will no longer support your ability to sign in to iTunes Store, App Store or iBooks Store. In order to continue using store features, including the ability to access your previously purchased content, you must transition from signing in with your AOL Username to signing in with an Apple ID."

Same here; I logged out, logged in, was not prompted to change anything. In fact when I went into the Security settings to amend the user name, it wouldn't let me!