Oh, yes an ATHM/AOL alliance would have been sweet.. I think AOL should at least make an effort to partner up with a smaller cable company.. just to get off the subject.
America Online Considering a Netscape-Branded Online Service
By Aimee Picchi
America Online Considering a Netscape-Branded Online Service
Dulles, Virginia, May 19 (Bloomberg) -- America Online Inc.,
the world's largest online service, said it's considering a
Netscape-branded Internet service linked to Netscape's popular
web browser to attract more customers.
AOL plans to use the Netscape brand name to compete with
rival Internet service providers such as EarthLink Network Inc.
and MindSpring Enterprises Inc., PaineWebber analyst Jim
Preissler said following a meeting with AOL executives.
America Online bought Netscape Communications Corp. for
about $10 billion earlier this year to broaden its audience
through Netscape's Netcenter Web site and its Navigator and
Communicator Web browser software. The browser software requires
a separate online connection to link it to the Internet.
''The thought is that there's some opportunity because so
many consumers think Netscape is their online service,'' said
Preissler, who rates AOL a ''buy.'' ''That would put big
competitive pressure on other'' online services.
America Online shares rose 7/16 to 134 1/2. The meeting with
analysts, held in Washington, D.C., ran all day and featured
presentations by Chairman Steve Case, President Bob Pittman and
other executives.
AOL said its high-speed Internet service, also called
''broadband,'' won't replace AOL's service, but will be
incremental to its business, Preissler said. The company said it
continues to do well in markets where broadband service is
available.
America Online will start offering high-speed access over
phone lines to some of its more than 17 million subscribers this
summer. AOL is facing competition from a rival technology that
provides fast service using cable-TV lines.
The Dulles, Virginia-based company is developing a product
using high-speed phone and cable connections that will
automatically detect access speed and then offer multimedia
services such as sound and video, Preissler said.
''My guess is that it's from RealNetworks,'' said Preissler.
Seattle-based RealNetworks Inc. is the No.1 maker software used
to access audio and video online. RealNetworks officials weren't
immediately available to comment.
AOL is also working on coming out with an upgraded version
of its software called AOL 5.0, in the fall, he said.
''We reviewed core elements of the business and provided
context to recent announcements,'' said AOL spokesman Jim
Whitney.
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