Microsoft Talks To Time Warner About Acquiring a Piece of AOL

[PennyMan]

searchenginewatch.com

Via a post in our forums, we learn of a NY Post article: AOL's Time May Be Up, about Microsoft talking with Time Warner about about acquiring a piece of AOL.

Under the plan being considered, Microsoft would pay some money to Time Warner for the AOL stake, leaving the two companies approximately equal partners in the venture.

The article also says that AOL has also talked with Google and Yahoo about acquiring part of the service.


Here Is The Link:
http://blog.searchenginewatch.com/blog/050915-131721

[mrdmk]

1. AOL has been a money loser ever since the internet became

popular to the public starting in 1990.

[Massacure]

2. Not really. high speed internet is what did them in.

Early on even a computer dummy could use AOL. However as more people become aware of technology they do not need AOL's tech support and move on to high speed internet. Then AOL tried to cut costs and went down into a downward spiral.

[fujiyama]

4. Yeah I remember thinking

after theh merger/buyout that AOL would be a major drag on Time Warner.

Once high speed internet became more common and more people got used to the web, AOL's days were numbered. It's funny but there were some people that were so stubborn and stuck to aol for so long in spite of it being overpriced and giving mediocre service. But even they ended up switching in the last year or two.

[mrdmk]

5. AOL never had a positive cash flow after they started their Internet

Service.

All of their spending capital came from Wall Street investments. When sold to Time Warner it came to light that AOL was cooking the books to show positive cash flow. Sorry do not have time to find the links.

[splat]

3. Why would MS want Aol? The userbase? n/t

[TroubleMan]

6. Just when you thought AOL couldn't have a shittier product

Here comes Microsoft to prove me wrong.