Monday, June 13, 2005
AOL Launching New Online Portal this Month
America Online said yesterday it will launch its overhauled AOL.com Web site this month, rolling out an ad-based portal with free services in a shift away from its shrinking Internet subscription business. The new site is expected to go live in the last two weeks of June, AOL spokeswoman Tricia Wallace said. She said it will be available to AOL subscribers and to Internet users through a link on the current AOL Web site, which will continue to coexist with the new version for about a month.
"AOL has evolved from a company at the forefront of getting consumers online to a company that supports a powerful network of Web brands and services," the company said in background materials provided to reporters. "Now AOL is setting another standard with its AOL.com portal designed to make the Internet come alive for new audiences across the Web," AOL said.
The new site brings together AOL's current Web services with features previously only available to subscribers. Several new offerings include a heavy focus on video intended for people with high-speed Internet connections.
"The emphasis we're placing on multimedia throughout AOL.com reflects the importance of on-demand video as an emerging mass behavior on the Web," the company said. The "video hub," one of three main areas on the site, will include a new video player and a large selection of music videos, movie clips and previews, independent short films and news and sports content. A new video search tool will let people peruse AOL's video archive and materials from other video sites.
Another section is "My AOL," a page of text links that people can customize to deliver continuous updates about the news, entertainment, sports and other topics they choose.
The main portal has more traditional links to news, music, shopping and mapping tools. The page also links to AOL offerings such as AOL Instant Messenger and the new free AIM e-mail service.
Search tools include a Web search powered by Google, access to AOL's CityGuide and a "desktop search" feature that lets users of AOL's browser scan the Web and their computers from one place.
AOL, the online division of media giant Time Warner, will also offer content from its parent company from cable networks like HBO and CNN and magazines like People and Real Simple. Other content will include material from XM Satellite Radio, the NFL and ABC News. While the No. 1 Internet provider, AOL has been hemorrhaging subscribers who have defected to lower-priced and higher-speed rivals. Current members pay about $20 a month for dial-up Internet service.
AOL had 21.7 million members in this year's first quarter, down from more than 26 million at the end of 2002. The new Web site and the launch of a free e-mail service last month are part of a strategy to move beyond its subscriber services into the realm of free Web offerings that attract advertising, AOL officials have said.
Brought to you by the Guardian eCommerce Safe Site Privacy Seal Program.
"AOL has evolved from a company at the forefront of getting consumers online to a company that supports a powerful network of Web brands and services," the company said in background materials provided to reporters. "Now AOL is setting another standard with its AOL.com portal designed to make the Internet come alive for new audiences across the Web," AOL said.
The new site brings together AOL's current Web services with features previously only available to subscribers. Several new offerings include a heavy focus on video intended for people with high-speed Internet connections.
"The emphasis we're placing on multimedia throughout AOL.com reflects the importance of on-demand video as an emerging mass behavior on the Web," the company said. The "video hub," one of three main areas on the site, will include a new video player and a large selection of music videos, movie clips and previews, independent short films and news and sports content. A new video search tool will let people peruse AOL's video archive and materials from other video sites.
Another section is "My AOL," a page of text links that people can customize to deliver continuous updates about the news, entertainment, sports and other topics they choose.
The main portal has more traditional links to news, music, shopping and mapping tools. The page also links to AOL offerings such as AOL Instant Messenger and the new free AIM e-mail service.
Search tools include a Web search powered by Google, access to AOL's CityGuide and a "desktop search" feature that lets users of AOL's browser scan the Web and their computers from one place.
AOL, the online division of media giant Time Warner, will also offer content from its parent company from cable networks like HBO and CNN and magazines like People and Real Simple. Other content will include material from XM Satellite Radio, the NFL and ABC News. While the No. 1 Internet provider, AOL has been hemorrhaging subscribers who have defected to lower-priced and higher-speed rivals. Current members pay about $20 a month for dial-up Internet service.
AOL had 21.7 million members in this year's first quarter, down from more than 26 million at the end of 2002. The new Web site and the launch of a free e-mail service last month are part of a strategy to move beyond its subscriber services into the realm of free Web offerings that attract advertising, AOL officials have said.
Brought to you by the Guardian eCommerce Safe Site Privacy Seal Program.
