Free Internet Site:A Portal to AOL's Future? (AOL's "reversal of fortune")

[DeepModem Mom]

New York Times:
Free Internet Site: A Portal to AOL's Future?
By SAUL HANSELL and GERALDINE FABRIKANT
Published: June 3, 2005


Last month, America Online convened a meeting broadcast on the Web to its 14,000 employees. The purpose was to show off the free Internet portal that it is about to introduce at AOL.com, the third attempt in three years to offset AOL's steady loss of subscribers.

Before the unveiling, Richard D. Parsons, the chief executive of Time Warner, AOL's parent, spoke. "AOL is not for sale," he said, according to two people who were in the audience.

"AOL is not for spinout," he added. "AOL is for keeps."

But a few days later, Mr. Parsons was quoted as saying that he was, in fact, open to spinning off some AOL shares to the public. Then Barry Diller, an established Internet bargain hunter, said publicly that he had been interested in adding AOL to his holdings last year, but had turned up his nose at hints that the price would be $20 billion.

Whether or not AOL is about to be cast off, its reversal of fortune is striking. Five years ago, when its merger with Time Warner was announced, America Online alone was valued at $164 billion. Now, as it sets out to reinvent itself, its place within Time Warner is in question....


http://www.nytimes.com/2005/06/03/technology/03aol.html?hp&ex=1117857600&en=d4ac72a98754f9af&ei=5094&partner=homepage

[central scrutinizer]

1. if they weren't the worst ISP in the world

they might not be in such bad shape. But I will miss getting a new AOL CD in a cute little box every couple of days - I am working on a killer mobile for my daughter's bedroom.

[daleo]

3. They make pretty good coasters, for your coffee table

But I have enough now for several lifetimes.

[Betsy Ross]

4. Put Xmas tree lights through the hole for a different look.

They are also useful tied onto strings, blowing in the wind to keep birds away from freshly planted seeds.

[daleo]

5. Those are both good ideas.

Maybe I will build an AOL scarecrow, something like a thinner version of the Michelin Man.

[Spazito]

2. AOL sucks!

It sucks both in service and in it's sycophantic support for the bush cabal. I used to be a member but canceled when they became the official 'kool-aid' providers.

[0007]

6. AOL sucks, it always has and it always will -

[Massacure]

7. AOL grew rapidly with because of their ease of use.

Ten years ago, many people were computer illiterate and AOL allowed them to browse the internet and use E-mail relatively easy compared to many other companies. They have been falling behind the curve though, as more people grow familiar with computers. AOL is slow and expensive. As less and less people need AOL's interface, AOL is going to loose subscribers to the companies that provide faster or cheaper service, depending on their needs.

[Ouabache]

8. AOL is a virus

or a worm or bloatware at best.