America On-Line: will it survive ...? Message Board

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Technology Stocks : America On-Line: will it survive ...?

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To: Zoltan! who wrote (2776)	4/8/1997 10:02:00 AM
From: Joel Sternberg	of 13594

This is what we have heard from our sources. I am telling this third-hand, so if it doesn't make a lot of sense, forgive me. We have been wondering around here for awhile when MSFT was going to make their big move, and were counting on it as a facilitator to AOL's demise. Certainly, MSFT, with its deep pockets could put the kabash on AOL any time it wanted to by draining their subscriber base with irresistible offers to AOL subscribers. The word we get is that MSFT is not sure what they ultimately want to do with MSN other than to sell their products, as it is not clear to them that it is possible to make money.(Perhaps their purchase of WebTV will give them new direction.) They are confident that they can gain market share whenever they want it. At this time, however, they figure that increased membership will just increase losses. I would add from my own experience that MSN is not yet a sufficiently compeling product which can maintain members (the old churn problem). I just cancelled my trial subscription. Perhaps when they can offer better content that can reduce churn, MSFT will make a bigger push.

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