ahhaha,
I could not agree with you more.
My perspective. As a former US Naval Officer, 6 years mostly @ sea, I was late in joining Corporate America - started Feb 97. Got my first PC PII w/ Windows 95 in Aug 97 AND like the "duped" signed up with AOL for Internet access/service right away. Was thinking 'safety in numbers', I guess.
The CD carpet bombings began (and are still going on) even though I was a member. Within months was fed up with busy signals and wait; switched to MSN, not much better. Then I was getting 2 X the CD bombings.
Subscribed with @HOME in April 98. Can not remember how I survived without it! Will never go back to dial-up. Recently moved to Boston for temporary corporate assignment. Arranged to have Media One Express (part of UMG) cable internet access as part of the deal - its almost as good as @Home.
In October during a SJC visit was polled by some T telemarketers as to whether I would be interested in a single provider for Cable TV, Cable Internet, Local and Long-distance phone service all for a competitive price. SIGN ME UP!! I am sure wireless will be included soon as well. I mean really, why should I have to write 4+ checks per month for "Communication" fees?!
The desire to communicate is innate in humans; regardless of race, creed or color. People will always pay for better, more convenient communication techniques before cheap and less expensive ones. The world is moving towards BB. T, ATHM, WCII and others are fueling this Revolution.
AOL does have numbers and cash but they better move fast or else they'll die on the vine. Dial-up is reaching diminishing returns, both the ILECs and AOL know it, but their greed has made them slow to change. AOL is pinned to a dying medium. XDSL is a temporary solution at best, AOL knows this too. Now that the DOJ has approved the T & TCI merger, AOL has been very quiet.
As far as to AOL's whining to the FCC, @Home could not pay for better publicity.
My biggest fear, @Home and T not being able to keep up with the growth and demand. Evidenced recently by significant delays in Fremont, Ca. with @Home. |
