AOL takes on .Net with Alerts
Published: 10 Jan 2002 17:25 GMT
America Online on Thursday unveiled a content delivery system that mirrors Microsoft's ambitious .Net strategy.
The new service, dubbed "AOL Alerts," shoots information onto AOL-enabled cell phones, pagers and its Mobile Communicator email device. That means AOL can send sports scores, weather reports, stock quotes and news headlines via email and instant messenger to members who are away from their main computers.
The introduction of AOL Alerts highlights the ongoing turf battle between AOL Time Warner's online division and software goliath Microsoft. In October of last year, Microsoft introduced .Net Alerts, the first in a series of services tied to its much anticipated .Net strategy. Microsoft has held up .Net as the way to move software sales from shrinkwrapped packages to online subscriptions.
But AOL spokeswoman Kathie Brockman denied the company was following in Microsoft's footsteps. She said the service is an evolution of "AOL Anywhere," the company's long-promoted attempt to offer interactive services outside the PC.
"We're not focused on what they're offering," she said of Microsoft. "AOL Alerts is a continuation of AOL 7's emphasis on relevant and important information and making it available to members anytime, anywhere."
AOL, along with many Microsoft critics, has expressed concern over .Net. The central issue of worry is .Net's reliance on its Web sign-in and wallet service Passport, which Microsoft has also embedded into Windows XP. Passport is the software that permits entry into its popular email service, Hotmail, and is expected to act as the central authentication hub for future .Net functions.
However, AOL has not stood by quietly. In December, AOL Time Warner joined the Liberty Alliance Project, a coalition of companies creating a central online registration and identity technology to challenge Passport. Members include Sun Microsystems, Cisco Systems, eBay, United Airlines and General Motors.
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