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 : AUTOHOME, Inc -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: FR1 who wrote (14804)	8/22/1999 10:34:00 PM
From: MIKE REDDERT	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 29970

Good analysis Franz. I remember AOL when it was a half-baked online service behind Prodigy and Compuserve. AOL became what it is by forging into the internet while Prodigy (beginning to establish extra fees) and Compuserve were trying to resist giving up the per/minute fees that were far more lucrative. While $P$ and $C$ were fighting progress, AOL was mailing out free software, creating a simple interface, and developing "cute" features that people appreciated. They gained extraordinary brand recognition, over time, by "word of mouth" At this point, the tables have turned. We are entering a new phase of the "internet experience", that of Broad Band... and like $P$ and $C$, AOL is now resisting... not because they don't realize the potential, but because there is a very real possibility that they will become one of many that merely latch on to the high speed pipe. The future belongs to those providers that develop BB content in a simple to use but impressive fashion... and while AOL may have it on the "drawing board", I have yet to see their work in this area. Meanwhile, I see that Excite has began to develop the beginnings of BB experience in Excite.extreme. ATHM's strategy is comparable to that of AOL at the beginning of the public's "mass" entry into the internet. While AOL made it easy to connect by passing out free CD's, ATHM is attaching a modem to the end of a high speed pipe and hooking you up to a (hopefully) new and simple experience that (if executed properly ), will gradually develop into brand loyalty. Their software will theoretically be the first that you see, and you should be impressed if they do it correctly. Over time that will lead to the same brand loyalty that AOL enjoys now. Meanwhile, AOL is somewhat fettered in any attempt that it might make in presenting the BB experience. If they try to add it to their services, they have constant complaints from those who have dial-up service, and therefore are unable to access the BB sites. The overall implications are that it is unimportant what Excites page hits are at this point... what matters is how well Excite is developing it's BB experience. Certainly, those with dial up modems will switch to other services, because Excite is aiming at the future BB experience... those with dial-up will not be able to view their "enhanced" sites as they are developed. The implications for success are huge. I don't think that comparing ATHM to the AOL of yester-year are unreasonable. However, as always, it will depend on the execution of their business plan. So far, I think they are on the right track. Forget the page hits! They are meaningless! IMHO :) Mike

To: FR1 who wrote (14804)	8/23/1999 5:14:00 AM
From: E. Davies	Read Replies (3) \| Respond to of 29970

I've seen exciteextreme. I find it "cute". Looks like a sharp programmer could have slapped it together in a couple of days. Even as a "proof of concept" it strikes me as pretty weak. If I had broadband I cant imagine that I'd bother using exciteextreme. Am I alone in this? What do other people think? 7 months and counting... Where are the apps? More importantly where is the "buzz"? I'll give you that voice chat & voice mail are a baby step. Lets hope they put out a blockbuster site enough before Christmas to get a little excitement going. Eric

To: FR1 who wrote (14804)	8/23/1999 11:41:00 PM
From: Solid	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 29970

Franz, Thanks for the sample site. Unless there is a major fumble of extreme proportions, I do not see how this technology will do anything but blossom into the state of the ever evolving art for the immediate and forseable future. Let e@home take a little time to deploy. The Russians were first in space but who landed men on the Moon and returned them, ALL, safely? And I am re- thinking the excite merger as a good thing. With the advent of set top boxes, cable ready for inet, merge this with webtv and you have huge access to huge numbers of subs, with simple technology and a pipe with an excellent interface for finding content and application. Solid