Since you used the German term "Zugangssoftware," this review focuses on the context of the German market, where AOL had a significant presence in the late 90s and early 2000s.
AOL used standard PPP over modems but encapsulated its own “AOL Link Protocol” for chat, buddy lists, and internal services. The access software acted as a shim between the user and the TCP/IP stack, often replacing Windows’ dial-up networking. aol zugangssoftware download
The only people who should download this are IT archivists or retro-computing enthusiasts running Windows XP on a virtual machine for fun. Since you used the German term "Zugangssoftware," this
AOL dominated the consumer internet access market in the 1990s and early 2000s, especially in the US and Germany. Unlike modern broadband connections, AOL required dedicated client software (“Zugangssoftware”) to authenticate users, manage local access numbers, and render content. Downloading this software was the first step for millions into the online world. This paper asks: What were the technical characteristics of AOL Zugangssoftware? How did the download and installation process work? What security and usability issues arose? And what is its status today? The only people who should download this are
AOL launched in Germany in 1996, distributing CD-ROMs and later enabling software downloads via web or FTP. The software was localized, with German-language dialogs, access numbers from Deutsche Telekom, and content partnerships with German media.