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

To: Fred B. who wrote (15347)	5/6/1999 5:28:00 PM
From: MulhollandDrive	Respond to of 41369

Fred, But, to use your early television analogy, when television came on the scene you had basically, 2 and eventually 3 broadcast "delivery" systems, NBC, CBS and ABC. I'm sure the shareholders of those companies thought at the time that with the early "claim laid on the hearts and minds" of people that there would be little that could challenge network dominance. Then along comes cable and you know the rest of the story. Don't confuse a defacto operating standard monopoly as is enjoyed by MSFT with content providers like AOL. The public is fickle, and frankly will ultimately opt for whichever company provides the best access at the best price. While your point is well taken about Armstrong's push to get back into local phone service, I have heard him state that he believes that the market is looking for value-added services and I think what he has in mind is basically "one-stop" shopping for telecom, voice AND internet. I also think he realizes that the company that has the best pipeline wins. As far as "alienating an ISP with 17 Million subscribers"....I think you may have it backwards. I'm sure Armstrong will be more than happy to lease his lines to AOL or any other ISP. As the net evolves and more and more bandwidth demands are created by new technology, ie, 3D, interactive, video streaming.... users will be drawn to the best delivery system. That means no wait times, no down times. I personally think T's move is great for competition. Nothing I would like better for example than having the option of telling my current cable company to take a hike.<vbg> bp