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Technology Stocks : MindSpring Enterprises (MSPG) Another ISP. -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Shafik Habal who wrote (1085)	6/16/1999 7:07:00 AM
From: Thomas David King	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 1434

Page A6 of todays IBD has an article on Infoseek looking to hook up with an ISP to increase it's portal traffic. Those mentioned included MSPG.

To: Shafik Habal who wrote (1085)	6/29/1999 3:45:00 PM
From: Mr Bones	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 1434

Shafik Habal - Service bundling > what are your thoughts about the bundling of > Internet service w/ PCs? Peter Lynch uses the term "diworsification" to describe companies that lose their focus by expanding their business to include products and services that don't enhance their core product line. I understand that the ISPs' recurring revenues are attractive to the box makers who are stuck in a perpetually low-margin business. But a box maker buying an ISP sounds like diworsification to me. I don't understand how a company can give away a $500 box as a bonus for signing up for $20/month Net access and still expect to make money. But I might just be displaying a lack of imagination. Maybe a box maker/ISP combo would be able to supply $300 boxes, charge $25/month for Net access, demand a minimum 5 years signup period (guaranteeing future revenue stream) and gather enough demographic info about their customers to enhance their advertising value of their real estate. Still, I think the most likely suitor for MSPG is Bell South or a bandwidth provider who wants to pull traffic onto their lines. MSFT is another possibility but a long shot. Just my $.02. Can someone illuminate for me why the box makers are so interested in ISPs? Peace Mr Bones