Silicon Investor (SI) -- The First Internet Community

STOCKTALK

We've detected that you're using an ad content blocking browser plug-in or feature. Ads provide a critical source of revenue to the continued operation of Silicon Investor. We ask that you disable ad blocking while on Silicon Investor in the best interests of our community. If you are not using an ad blocker but are still receiving this message, make sure your browser's tracking protection is set to the 'standard' level.

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

To: Alan Buckley who wrote (27471)	7/28/1999 6:02:00 PM
From: RTev	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 74651

They are updating their client as well, according to this response on the AOL thread: #reply-10697878: "They are doing it for you. It's pretty cool actually. You can tell when they change because AOL let's you know they are updating."

To: Alan Buckley who wrote (27471)	7/28/1999 8:11:00 PM
From: t2	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 74651

I'm really quite shocked AOL is doing this. Do their customers view this deliberate loss of connectivity as to their benefit? Now would be a great time for MSN to offer a free 3 months of Internet access to converting AOL customers. Honestly, I'd pretty much written off MSN as a serious AOL competitor, but maybe I jumped the gun. They're certainly the ones on the right track here. Shocked? I would have been shocked if they had let MSFT get away with it. Remember, they have serious challenges ahead of them. They can't really compete with @Home and Roadrunner. Even though cable internet access appears to be more expensive, when one factors in an extra telephone line, it roughly the same cost. Up here in Canada, i am finding Cable is cheaper and of course, a lot faster. AOL is trying to hold on to their loyal customers any way they can. Their service is absolutely the worst i have come accross---very slow. The only one slower(about 1 year ago) was the old MSN internet access that was subsequently sold to AT&T up here in Canada. AT&T now has the fastest internet access over regular phone lines that i have come accross in my area---possibly because it is not as busy as AOL. AOL is really caught between a rock and a hard place. Until their broadband strategy unfolds successfully they should do whatever it takes to protect their messenger service from all---they don't really have a choice yet. They are basically behaving like MSFT when Netscape emerged----paranoid. I don't blame their management for taking this action. What they lose in their lobbying efforts as a result of this blockade is not significant as it appears that open cable lines is only a remote possibility anyways. The most they can do is hold up more @Home and Roadrunner from gaining too many of their own customers while the alternatives to cable are being developed for use on a wider scale. Legal battles between the municipalities and AT&T can buy AOL some time. Being a gatekeeper temporarily is what they have to do. Of course i hope MSFT is successful in their efforts with MSN Messenger. I admit i am biased.