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Technology Stocks : How high will Microsoft fly? -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: alias who wrote (26067)	7/14/1999 10:32:00 PM
From: t2	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 74651

If this is the direction Microsoft must take to stay competitive and it will add to the bottom line of my portfolio then so be it. But I really don't think deep down in my gut that this will last. Buy a computer and get free internet access makes sense but visa versa just doesn't compute. It's really gonna test some traditional alliances I would think. I agree with you. However, their fear of AOL is the reason for this strategy, IMHO. Keep AOL as weak as possible is their real goal. I am sure they have looked into the costs associated with this move. I would bet they believe it will only supplement the PC market and not replace it. I maintain that it is only about weakening AOL so that their PC allies like Gateway, Dell etc have a chance to build up their ISP biz. MSFT does not want to see one ISP as the big fish but prefer many players. This ensures they remain the 800 pound gorilla without any challenges to their dominant position. Remember how they got rid of Netscape Navigator as the browser of choice. Now they will be more careful in the "kill" AOL strategy. Furthermore, the local governments are already causing problems for AT&T. MSFT wins in that case as cable cannot offer multiple ISPs anyways. I don't think MSFT likes kissing up to AT&T to get business in exchange for investments. Weak AOL, Weak AT&T (@ Home) is the best result for Microsoft, IMHO. It is a lot easier to "bully" small players in the ISP market. "bully" = tough competitor in my dictionary--but maybe i am biased in favor of MSFT.