Time Warner Inc.'s AOL internet division is expected to end 2006 with more users than 2005, after it decided to offer its free, ad-supported services, Reuters reports.

In September, AOL announced plans to reorganize its business divisions to boost internet advertising sales globally.

"As we reach the end of the year we have ever more evidence that those efforts are working," said AOL Chief Executive Randy Falco.

In 2005, AOL ended up with 19.5 million paid subscribers; in 2002, they had 26.5 million paying subscribers.

AOL has not announced the 2006 total of users.