To: Jules B. Garfunkel who wrote (7710 ) 5/18/1999 7:28:00 AM From: rest42 Respond to of 30916
America Online Expected to Detail Broadband Plans at Meeting Dulles, Virginia, May 17 (Bloomberg) -- America Online Inc., the world's largest Internet service, is expected to update analysts about its plans for offering high-speed Internet access at its analyst meeting in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday. The all-day event will include presentations from Chairman Steve Case and President Bob Pittman, according to analysts. America Online needs to offer its more than 17 million subscribers high-speed Internet connections because more consumers are demanding it. So far, AOL has joined two telephone companies to offer fast service over phone lines. The company might reveal additional phone-company partnerships that would allow AOL to offer the service in more parts of the U.S., and could disclose details about its Internet-television product, said analysts. ''They'll try to comfort all the worried souls and show us how they plan on competing'' with other high-speed Internet companies, said Youssef Squali, an analyst at Ladenburg Thalmann & Co. who rates AOL a ''buy.'' America Online said last week that it's joining with General Motors Corp.'s Hughes Electronics Corp. and DirecTV to develop its Internet television product, called AOL TV. The service will let people watch television shows and chat online with friends at the same time. America Online is competing against a rival high-speed technology sold by At Home Corp., the No. 1 cable-Internet company, and others that use cable-TV lines. So far, cable companies have resisted opening their networks to AOL. ''AOL should be able to make their broadband strategy clear'' at the meeting, said Squali. ''Cable is the long shot. I don't expect them to announce a cable deal. I don't think they're that far ahead.'' Dulles, Virginia-based AOL will probably discuss its other businesses, such as CompuServe and its international joint ventures, analysts said. AOL rose 10 7/8 to 136 1/8. May/17/ 99 17:21 For more stories from Bloomberg News, click here. (C) Copyright 1999 Bloomberg L.P. Any redistribution of Bloomberg content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Bloomberg L.P. Any reference to the material must be properly attributed to Bloomberg News. The information herein was obtained from sources which Bloomberg L.P. and its suppliers believe reliable, but they do not guarantee its accuracy. Neither the information, nor any opinion expressed, constitutes a solicitation of the purchase or sale of any securities or commodities.(C) Copyright 1999 Bloomberg L.P. BLOOMBERG, Bloomberg News, Bloomberg Financial Markets, Bloomberg Television, Bloomberg News Radio are trademarks, tradenames and service marks of Bloomberg L.P.