Re: AOL purchase of Netscape

[Joe Shea <joeshea@netcom.com>]

	I feel pretty certain AOL purchased Netscape to shut it down a 
year from now on behalf of Microsoft.  At some point, AOL and Microsoft 
will probably merge, since they have much different businesses and play 
to each other's strengths.  Haven't you all seen that happen dozens of 
times before?

Joe Shea				|	1812 N. Ivar, No. 5
Editor-in-Chief				|	Hollywood, CA  90028-5026
The American Reporter			|	(213)467-0616
http://www.american-reporter.com	|	joeshea@netcom.com

"The first daily newspaper with original content to start on the Internet."
		             -- Adam Gaffin, Internet World (Sept., 1995)

On Tue, 24 Nov 1998 rlande@UBmail.ubalt.edu wrote:

> What makes us think that AOL will continue to support the Netscape
> browser?  The Netscape founders have a personal stake in supporting
> their "baby" even if there is a really good chance that Microsoft will
> squish it, and even if it will take many years to become profitable.
> 
> For AOL, by contrast, it will look like an almost sure looser.  Why
> antagonize their partner, Microsoft, by aggressively pumping money into
> the browser, which they will then give away?  Why fight Microsoft  which
> is engaging in effective predatory behavior against the browser?  Why not
> direct those very smart and creative people to other projects, like
> portals, which are more likely to make money---
> 
> Bob Lande
> 
> Tue, 24 Nov 1998, R. Reese wrote:
> 
> > News just in on CNET site....
> > http://www.news.com/News/Item/0%2C4%2C29146%2C00.html?dd.ne.tx.ts1.1124
> > Apparently the talks were just a show...  the deal is done, proclaims CNET.
> > 
> > I wonder what AOL is going to do with all that personal information
> > gathered by Netscape, its portals and services, and its software
> > registrations?  Anyone care to guess as to the onslaught that is sure to
> > ensue?
> > R. Reese~
> > 
> > James Love wrote:
> > 
> > > Just a brief note to indicate that we intend to raise objections to the
> > > AOL purchase of Netscape.  Our concerns are partly motivated by the
> > > following:
> > >
> > > 1. the browser market is highly concentrated,
> > > 2. AOL and Microsoft both have business plans which depend upon
> > > advertising and referrals for electronic commerce,
> > > 3.  both AOL and MS hope to play a role in a more commercial front end
> > > to high speed internet access, and
> > > 4.  Netscape's navigator provides a useful tool for ISPs that only
> > > provide plain TCP/IP connectivity, a service which competes directly
> > > against AOL and MSN.
> > >
> > > We are also interested in finding out how AOL will deal with Netscape's
> > > plans for support of its browser as an open source product that can be
> > > freely distributed, and which is supported on multiple OS platforms,
> > > including Unix and Linux.
> > >
> > > Jamie Love <love@cptech.org>
> > >
> > > --
> > > James Love, Director, Consumer Project on Technology
> > > P.O. Box 19367, Washington, DC 20036, v202.386.8030 f202.234.5176
> > > http://www.cptech.org, mailto:love@cptech.org
> > 
> > --
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