Yes, Donny, you are correct. Colleges do provide free Internet link-ups. But as a former AOL-user, until the inception of NetZero, I recall a lot of college students using AOL. So if they dump AOL, yeser--re-re-rah-rah-roo-roo, they get more beer money!!!
Also noteworthy is college students, already used to free Internet access, upon graduation will certainly wish to continuing accessing the web for free.
And college students like to go places on the Internet where they'd prefer their respectives colleges not know they've been. The point is I think more freedom comes from using a free NetZero-type system than with using a specific locked-in college system with additional rules constraints and all.
Yes, college students will use NetZero and I assume some advertising will be aimed toward them. They will be targeted with ecommerce opportunities, coupons, give-aways, contests, sports promos or whatever, things of that nature. There's a whole lot that can be done. A college audience is a good one for targeted marketeers.
Also, why do public and private-school librarians, although appreciative of Microsoft's free service, always complain about being locked into the Gift of Gates system only? For an enlightened individual indeed freedom counts!
Conclusion: If college students use AOL, they'll also use NetZero. And guess what? They're apt to come up with more interesting screen names off of a non-college service provider. And believe me people do like their screen names. Not everyone wants dot.edu after their screen name. Agree? |
