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

To: Tradelite who wrote (8027)	3/26/1999 9:16:00 AM
From: RocketMan	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 41369

HOW BIG IS AOL? from BANCBOSTON ROBERTSON STEPHENS HOW BIG IS AOL? - Even with some of the best positioned companies, like AOL, where we expect strong March quarter results, we wonder whether or not reporting season will be enough of a catalyst to push the stock to new highs. Other catalysts could include cable deals and/or more acquisitions, although we don't expect these to be imminent. However, AOL has a history of sneaking up on us. For example, it may not be obvious to many how big AOL has become outside of its base of 16 million members. According to Media Metrix, AOL.com and Yahoo! reached roughly the same number of unique users at just over 31 million in February. AOL's hottest web-based service is ICQ, a small acquisition, which has posted dramatic growth to over 28 million users. The ICQ application alerts you when your friends are also online, allowing you to send instant messages back and forth. It is a small piece of software downloaded into your and your friend's browsers. The ICQ client could end up being a key driver of activity on AOL's Web properties because it is persistently available to users with or without a browser open, serving as the on-ramp for PC users switching from spreadsheets to the Web. ICQ can be used in offices to replace intercoms. AOL has provided Buddy Lists, a similar application within the core network. With ICQ, you can be reached at work, not just at home; ICQ steals more time for the Web away from other activities. While ICQ is a separate brand, it connects you to the AOL network, potentially allowing instant messages like pages, stock quotes, and other applications. This constant addition of more services from AOL highlights the growing importance of its network and the defensibility of its position.