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Technology Stocks : America On-Line: will it survive ...? -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Sam who wrote (10425)	6/24/1998 4:13:00 PM
From: Yikes	Respond to of 13594

The writing is on the wall for AOL. With the purchase of TCI, AT&T is now obviously serious about the Internet market, like I stated yesterday. Why on earth will AT&T offer cheap cable access to AOL?! AT&T spends $24 billion to get into this market, it will charge AOL accordingly.

To: Sam who wrote (10425)	6/24/1998 5:44:00 PM
From: Harry Larson	Respond to of 13594

It's gonna take a lot more than Stevie to get cable open their networks as if they're telephone companies. It will take the FCC and probably Congress.

To: Sam who wrote (10425)	6/24/1998 6:21:00 PM
From: The Duke	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 13594

Sam, so aol HOPES to make agreements to resell cable internet access, but why should ATT/TCI cut aol in on the deal. they are already in 20-33 million homes, already billing, already hooked up, and already well branded, with better reputations for good service than aol could ever hope to acheive. If I'm ATT, convince me I should cut you in as a reseller for a significant cut in the profit margin of internet access.

To: Sam who wrote (10425)	6/24/1998 7:45:00 PM
From: J.S.	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 13594

Sam, It has been remarked by more that one person that Steve's comment are suggestive of damage control. Sure ATT/TCI can make a deal with AOL. This will allow AOL to appear to its subscribers as being on the cutting edge. That is a far cry giving from giving AOL any advantage and the market sees this. Regulatory issues will come into play. Here AOL is the internet analog of the Baby Bells. They will argue for "open cable". Whatever the outcome ATT/TCI should be able to provide an attractive alternative that will totally bypass AOL. This is not so much a threat to AOL's current subscriber base as it is to its ability to attract new subscribers. Churn will of course be as big an issue as ever. AOL is here to stay, but we are seeing the inevitable competition in this new industry that prevents simple extrapolation of recent trends indefinately into the future.