Hello people.
I have read all the postings to this thread going back a few days and notice the large percentage of AOL shareholders who seem nervous about the current price. Never having read this thread before, I was taken by surprise, expecting, instead, more cheering than reflectiveness. I find this very healthy.
The reason I have been reading the thread is because I have been considering buying some shares either of AOL, MSPG (Mindspring Enterprises), or both (dividing the money I intend to invest between both).
Right now I am not a customer of AOL and quite frankly, I do not foresee myself becoming one in the future, mainly because I have free internet access (an .edu account). I have, however, seen what AOL looks like while over at friends and even though all the advertising, private chat room, and games (i.e. slingo) are not for me, I know for a fact people get 'hooked' on these non-internet things at AOL.
I disagree with the previous poster that AOL will become the gorilla of IP providers because a service such as AOL does not meet the criteria to become a gorilla--not proprietary. There is nothing AOL does that someone else can not do. BUT AOL has a large, loyal customer base and with the purchase of Compuserve, acquired a lot of new customers, many outside the U.S.A.--which I see as a big advantage. Also, **every** first time PC buyer I know is now at least trying AOL due to the software being pre-loaded in the PCs they bought. Most I expect to stick with AOL because computer newbies like the familiar--which AOL will become by the time they have to decide if they want to start paying for the service.
All the talk about free internet access and how this will impact the likes of AOL does not concern me in the least. I could very well be wrong, but I am under the impression that AOL could actually increase its revenues if it offered free internet access, thereby opening AOL doors to outsiders, people who, after looking around, would then be willing to pay nominal fees to access certain areas now only available to AOL subscribers. For example, people could 'subscribe' to areas that discuss stocks or obtain stock information [assuming things are there that are unavailable via Yahoo!)--or even subscribe to slingo! A nominal fee, say, $1 or 2/month depending on what one selects or $10 or 20 (per item) for the year, and AOL could make as much, even more than now when advertising revenue, etc. is taken into account.
Sorry for making this so long, people. When I join a thread, I like to share something with people in my first posting rather than merely post something like, "Hi, I'm new. Tell me what you think of (whatever)."
BTW, does anyone here follow MSPG as well? I would be interested in hearing comparisons between the prospects of both companies. Yes, I think there is room for both.
Lynn |
