Comments on: Will AOL Follow The Free?

By: Karen Herndon

Karen Herndon — Thu, 21 Sep 2006 22:51:38 +0000

I have written to you for a year, of and on saying I don't wont AOL. I have been with Yahoo for over a year., so please cancell my AOl.

Thank You,

Karen Herndon
4957 Cheryy Hill
Corpus Christi Tx 78413
361-991-8077

By: Darren McLaughlin

Darren McLaughlin — Wed, 12 Jul 2006 20:05:54 +0000

I think they're in huge trouble either way. They're happy to dump the dialup users though, and getting rid of some of the costs may help.

They want pageviews. Pageviews = money these days.

By: PPA Kro

PPA Kro — Wed, 12 Jul 2006 18:52:16 +0000

To further defend my previous comment, here's another relevant article on the sad state of AOL: http://www.smartmoney.com/commonsense/index.cfm?story=20060711

By: PPA Kro

PPA Kro — Wed, 12 Jul 2006 17:37:18 +0000

The fact that is has taken AOL this long to come up with a “free” strategy is indicative of long standing internal politics that have frozen this rusty machine for a decade. Internally, mid-level execs and sr. execs are still living under the illusion that AOL is still relevant (ie Ted Leonsis). No matter what they claim they are going to do, they WILL NOT be able to get out of their own way. By the time AOL does execute it will be too little and way too late.

By: Billiger

Billiger — Wed, 12 Jul 2006 07:47:14 +0000

Other countries – same problems. I tried to cancel my AOL account for over 3 months – till i got an answer.

By: Billiger

Billiger — Wed, 12 Jul 2006 07:46:12 +0000

Other countries – same problems. I tried to cancel my AOL account for over 3 months – till i got an answer.

By: roopa

roopa — Wed, 12 Jul 2006 05:43:43 +0000

this is the best move – the most competitive and the one that comes from necessity – the long term picture is more important. no point sitting back and waiting for death with broadband and free content on the horizon.

By: Nathaniel Ellis

Nathaniel Ellis — Wed, 12 Jul 2006 04:59:01 +0000

And how many of those subscribers are dead?

AOL STILL refuses to cancel my Mother's AOL account almost 2 years after her death in a car accident. All attempts to do so have been met with hang ups/'computer problems' etc. I can't even begin to describe how awful each attempt to cancel is for me (can't even speak for how my father - who was initally unsuccessful in these attempts to cancel - feels).

That the current revenue that comes from disgraceful business practices like this should pay for the above free service makes me want to throw up.

The email address I add to this post(which I think John keeps private) is the AOL one in question, and the link (click my name) is to my mother's inspirational obituary in The Guardian.

By: Search Engine Web

Search Engine Web — Wed, 12 Jul 2006 04:00:53 +0000

According to the forecasts, AOL, which has 18.6 million U.S. subscribers now, would end up with just over six million by the end of 2009...

How are they reaching this conclusion?

They appear to be suggesting a lack of faith in AOL to remain competative.

Giving hi-speed users free AOL accounts under the guise that they would have left - then pushing Ads on them during their visits to any AOL properties does not display any faith in AOL as a unique, content-rich place worth visiting for their future users.

What Time Warner may be anticipating is the "Multi-media portalization" of all the major carriers - or the acquisition or merging of carriers to content providers - so as to have everyone virtually offering the same thing.

Just imagine how different AOL would have been if they were acquired by Google - it would really fill a mutual void.

One gets the feeling that Time Warner sees AOL as a menace.