AOL has recruited seven million new customers over the last 12 months the company said today.

It now boasts more than 31 million punters making it by far the biggest ISP in the world.

The Company said the massive growth was due to it providing a value service coupled with a vast array of content from AOL Time Warner group.

Said Barry Schuler, chairman and CEO of America Online, Inc: "This continued strong membership growth, in what typically is a slow season for the industry, underscores the power of the AOL brand.

"In the nine months since the merger, AOL has also benefited from both the promotional punch of the combined company's media properties and compelling content from the other brands," he said.

AOL declined to break down the figures or provide any detail concerning its international operations. ®