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Technology Stocks : America On-Line (AOL) -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?


To: Lee Martin who wrote (5035)2/13/1999 6:43:00 PM
From: RTev  Read Replies (2) | Respond to of 41369
 
Great, thought-provoking post.
I had to change my email address and website. My kids are PO'd because they don't have their buddy list's anymore...

That's part of the problem, but still, there's a lot of ISP churn out there. Folks seem willing to change around for better deals or better service. Prodigy is making a major push to get AOL users by giving new Prodigy users software that automatically transfers an AOL address book to an internet-standard address book. They point out on their web page that the AOL buddy list can be used outside of AOL. Anyone with any internet account can download and use a copy without charge.

...and I miss some of the content AOL provided

That's the big advantage AOL has. As long as folks appreciate their private-network offerings (and are willing to put up with the ads), AOL offers something that no one else can duplicate.

In a couple of years instead of having bills for phone, internet, and cable we may have one bill from AOL (or MSN) providing all of these services combined at a lower price...

I agree that is likely to happen, but I don't see how AOL can be the one sending the bill. The bill will come from AT&T or Time-Warner, or from Bell Atlantic or USWest or one of the other Bells, or from Qwest or Level 3. It might even come from Microsoft which has significant investments in cable that AOL can't match now and doesn't have the money to match any time soon. But AOL does have both brand and content that will make it a significant player. You may get billed by Ameritech, but some of what you see is likely come from AOL which will make plenty that way, and without the massive capital cost of becoming a utility.



To: Lee Martin who wrote (5035)2/13/1999 8:08:00 PM
From: Daniel O'Keefe  Respond to of 41369
 
Lee, I have very much enjoyed reading your recent postings on what you see ahead for AOL and the services it may be able to provide. I live in Japan and AOL is taking off here as well thanks to savvy marketing and rich Japanese-language content. Look forward to reading more of your thoughts.



To: Lee Martin who wrote (5035)2/14/1999 3:03:00 PM
From: frankz  Respond to of 41369
 
Long time before AOL was formed, Prodigy had been there as a national wise ISP using their own web browser. I am one of their customers.
I think their service is good. When I travel, I can always use my PRODIGY account throughout states. That why I still stick with it. This one really is a potential future star can compete with AOL.