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

To: George Martin who wrote (17687)	5/19/1999 7:32:00 PM
From: Jenne	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 41369

Oh, yes an ATHM/AOL alliance would have been sweet.. I think AOL should at least make an effort to partner up with a smaller cable company.. just to get off the subject. America Online Considering a Netscape-Branded Online Service By Aimee Picchi America Online Considering a Netscape-Branded Online Service Dulles, Virginia, May 19 (Bloomberg) -- America Online Inc., the world's largest online service, said it's considering a Netscape-branded Internet service linked to Netscape's popular web browser to attract more customers. AOL plans to use the Netscape brand name to compete with rival Internet service providers such as EarthLink Network Inc. and MindSpring Enterprises Inc., PaineWebber analyst Jim Preissler said following a meeting with AOL executives. America Online bought Netscape Communications Corp. for about $10 billion earlier this year to broaden its audience through Netscape's Netcenter Web site and its Navigator and Communicator Web browser software. The browser software requires a separate online connection to link it to the Internet. ''The thought is that there's some opportunity because so many consumers think Netscape is their online service,'' said Preissler, who rates AOL a ''buy.'' ''That would put big competitive pressure on other'' online services. America Online shares rose 7/16 to 134 1/2. The meeting with analysts, held in Washington, D.C., ran all day and featured presentations by Chairman Steve Case, President Bob Pittman and other executives. AOL said its high-speed Internet service, also called ''broadband,'' won't replace AOL's service, but will be incremental to its business, Preissler said. The company said it continues to do well in markets where broadband service is available. America Online will start offering high-speed access over phone lines to some of its more than 17 million subscribers this summer. AOL is facing competition from a rival technology that provides fast service using cable-TV lines. The Dulles, Virginia-based company is developing a product using high-speed phone and cable connections that will automatically detect access speed and then offer multimedia services such as sound and video, Preissler said. ''My guess is that it's from RealNetworks,'' said Preissler. Seattle-based RealNetworks Inc. is the No.1 maker software used to access audio and video online. RealNetworks officials weren't immediately available to comment. AOL is also working on coming out with an upgraded version of its software called AOL 5.0, in the fall, he said. ''We reviewed core elements of the business and provided context to recent announcements,'' said AOL spokesman Jim Whitney.