The chess game continues. Obviously, the following would be very good news for all of the ISPs.
internetnews.com
AT&T, AOL Mulling Cable Access Deal August 9, 1999
ISP News Archives
Phone giant AT&T Corp. and Internet service provider America Online Inc. are considering a deal to grant AOL and possibly other ISPs "enhanced access" to AT&T cable systems for Internet links.
Citing executives close to the companies, the New York Times said the companies could be working toward a pact that could diminish the role in the industry of Excite@Home, which provides Internet links over cable lines.
AT&T and America Online declined to comment, the paper said. The two companies have feuded over access to cable systems in the past.
The newspaper said such a deal would enable AT&T and America Online to take advantage of each others' technical and marketing strengths.
The Times reported that Excite@Home may have received warning of developments two weeks ago at a board meeting.
Then, AT&T's Chairman C. Michael Armstrong, an @Home director, expressed concern that @Home's business of using cable modems to hook up Internet users might not be a "great strategic fit" with Excite's Web portal service, according to a person at the meeting.
AT&T has a 58 percent voting stake in Excite@Home.
The source quoted Armstrong as saying it might make more sense for @Home to focus on high-speed communications links, while considering selling or spinning off Excite's Web content business, the Times said. |
