SI
SI
discoversearch

We've detected that you're using an ad content blocking browser plug-in or feature. Ads provide a critical source of revenue to the continued operation of Silicon Investor.  We ask that you disable ad blocking while on Silicon Investor in the best interests of our community.  If you are not using an ad blocker but are still receiving this message, make sure your browser's tracking protection is set to the 'standard' level.
Technology Stocks : AUTOHOME, Inc
ATHM 22.83+2.7%1:54 PM EST
 Public ReplyPrvt ReplyMark as Last ReadFilePrevious 10Next 10PreviousNext  
To: Richard who wrote (19046)1/20/2000 12:04:00 AM
From: E. Davies   of 29970
 
I can't believe there will ever be enough money available to invest in "proprietary" content that can compete with what is available on the net at large.

Just to keep the discussion framed it is not about that. It is about having enough proprietary content that one might choose you as an ISP instead of someone else.

To be even more accurate I should note that AOL is the *only* one who intends to have propritary content of any significant size. Excite Broadband will be available to anyone on the net.

So its not "Is AOL better than the web?". It's "Is AOL content worth the extra $2/month they charge?" (and having to put up with all those ads). It will be as long as they can keep ICQ proprietary. AOL's best "content" is simply the size of it's subscriber base.

What happens when exclusivity ends and @home is 8 million users strong? Critical mass- nobody will have any reason to pick anyone else (except AOL of course). I find a decent analogy the deregulation of the long distance business. Most people stuck with AT&T simply because it was too much work to change. If the difference between AT&T and Sprint were only $2/month most people would never even bother.

@home will keep whatever customers it has unless it throws them away. Why would anybody switch?

Eric
Report TOU ViolationShare This Post
 Public ReplyPrvt ReplyMark as Last ReadFilePrevious 10Next 10PreviousNext  

HomeMailHotSubjectMarksPeopleMarksKeepersSettings
Terms Of UseContact UsCopyright/IP PolicyPrivacy PolicyAbout UsFAQAdvertise on SI
© 2026 Knight Sac Media.  Data provided by Twelve Data, Alpha Vantage, and CityFALCON News