AOL SEEKS TO DOMINATE HIGH-TECH HOUSEHOLDS.Byline: David E. Kalish Associated Press Associated Press: see news agency. Associated Press (AP) Cooperative news agency, the oldest and largest in the U.S. and long the largest in the world. If America Online See AOL. Chairman Steve Case Steve Case (born August 21, 1958) is a businessman best known as the co-founder and former chief executive officer and chairman of America Online (AOL). He reached his highest profile when he played an instrumental role in AOL's merger with Time Warner in 2000. delivers on his promises, his company's merger with Netscape could lead to brand new ways of navigating the Internet. One of the most ambitious goals of America Online Inc.'s $4.2 billion takeover of Netscape Communications Corp. is to speed creation of a slew of Net-surfing gadgets, including wireless hand-held computers, smart phones with screens, even a flat panel that sticks to your refrigerator door. Similar promises for futuristic gizmos have been made before, and so far few have become reality. But AOL (A division of Time Warner, Inc., New York, NY, www.aol.com) The world's largest online information service with access to the Internet, e-mail, chat rooms and a variety of databases and services. is hoping that its purchase of browser pioneer Netscape - and an alliance with computer maker Sun Microsystems Sun Microsystems, Inc. (NASDAQ: JAVA[3]) is an American vendor of computers, computer components, computer software, and information-technology services, founded on 24 February 1982. Corp. - may allow introduction of the new products faster than competitors, especially the company likely to become their biggest foe - Microsoft. AOL has given access to the Internet to millions of people, but almost all through personal computers. Now personal computer sales are slowing even though less than half of U.S. homes own computers. That limits the ability of businesses like AOL to sign up new subscribers and sell more advertising, which are its biggest revenue sources. Case's short-term goal is to dominate the main existing Internet sites where people get information, and buy goods and services In economics, economic output is divided into physical goods and intangible services. Consumption of goods and services is assumed to produce utility (unless the "good" is a "bad"). It is often used when referring to a Goods and Services Tax. . He wants to do that, in part, by giving the 14 million subscribers of AOL's proprietary online service easy links to Netscape's popular Netcenter site, a portal to services and information geared toward businesses. Together, Netscape and AOL sites reach a staggering 70 percent of all Americans who access the Internet, according to according to prep. 1. As stated or indicated by; on the authority of: according to historians. 2. In keeping with: according to instructions. 3. NetRatings, a research firm. But the deal's longer-term aspects are more tantalizing tan·ta·lize tr.v. tan·ta·lized, tan·ta·liz·ing, tan·ta·liz·es To excite (another) by exposing something desirable while keeping it out of reach. . Today, Netscape's Navigator browser lets users of PCs view and retrieve Internet information. Should Tuesday's deal be completed, AOL will work with Netscape's roughly 1,000 software programmers to help tailor future versions of Internet software that work with all sorts of electronics gear. In addition, AOL wants to eventually customize what it transmits to subscribers. Instead of receiving AOL's full range of news, entertainment, chat rooms and other features, a subscriber could, say, sign up only for personal investing advice and stock quotes. The cost savings could be a big draw, said Tom Rhinelander, an industry analyst with Forrester Research Forrester Research is an independent technology and market research company that provides its clients with advice about technology's impact on business and consumers. Corporate facts
The possibilities may be limited only by the willingness of consumer electronics makers to churn out futuristic products. AOL hopes to prod companies like Sony and Philips to create all sorts of equipment using AOL's content and Internet access, Netscape's browser technology and Sun Microsystems' flexible programming language called Java. ``We've put all the pieces of the puzzle together,'' said Barry Schuler Barry Martin Schuler (born September 7, 1953 in Jersey City, New Jersey) is American Internet pioneer, perhaps best known for making the Internet easy to use consumers while working for America Online for seven years, and being the CEO for three years. , president of AOL Interactive Services. Instead of sitting in front of a personal computer, a user could punch the screen of a hand-held gadget en route to work. TV viewers could click their way to news about a favorite sitcom star they're presently watching. Need a phone number? Punch some buttons on your screen phone. Just touch a flat screen attached to your refrigerator door to order some pizza. Some simple devices could hit store shelves by the end of next year, Rhinelander said. What could possibly thwart this bold vision? Microsoft, of course. The software giant has developed its own operating system operating system (OS) Software that controls the operation of a computer, directs the input and output of data, keeps track of files, and controls the processing of computer programs. for running the basic functions of consumer electronics equipment, including TV sets. Schuler said AOL is open to using Microsoft's operating system if that's what consumer electronics makers want. But AOL's new drive could set up the company for a future clash. Microsoft owns Web TV, a fledgling service that enables people to access the Internet using their television sets. Still, a big AOL strength is its experience creating Internet programming, said Tim Bajarin, head of Creative Strategies Research International, a San Jose-based consultancy. |
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