AOL, which recently abandoned its “pay-to-play” model, is now trying to succeed as a free service in a very crowded marketplace. Can it succeed? We look at AOL’s past and its possible future.
AOL – the company that was once at the forefront of the Internet revolution – is now at a crossroads. Will the company that was among the first to popularize online chat be able to reinvent itself in order to click with the savvier user of today? Or will it fade away, written off as a company that couldn’t keep up with the ever-changing world of technology?
Until recently, AOL was best known as an ISP for those who knew little or nothing about the Internet. Many of its users were attracted to it because of its reputation as a family-friendly starting ground. On the other side of the tracks, more experienced users were often critical of the service, pointing to its “walled garden” approach, the software’s tendency to override other applications, and the way AOL made it difficult for its users to quit the service.
But on August 2, 2006, the company surprised everyone when it announced that it would be providing its services free of charge. According to the company, it was just a part of its goal of putting AOL “back on a growth path.” And on October 4, 2006, AOL introduced the beta of its new OpenRide software, which offers AOL adherents a new interface with which to check their e-mail, surf the Web, IM their buddies, and check out AOL’s media offerings (music, video, etc.).
http://www.informationweek.com/shared/printableArticle.jhtml?articleID=193104723
either way- free or paid …its still AOLHell :o
