AOL is going after Microsoft
Reuters | at | by Mike
AOL Time Warner Inc. is going after Microsoft Corp. with a strategy that calls for deals with computer makers to give AOL products prominent placement on new PCs, the Washington Post reported on Thursday, citing internal AOL documents.
According to the Post, AOL wants manufacturers to give its software for online access greater prominence than Microsoft's MSN service. In return, AOL would pay the PC makers about $35 for each customer they nab for AOL's Internet access service, sources told the Post. AOL declined comment on the financial terms, the newspaper said.
"AOL is paying (computer makers) to eliminate consumer choice, forcing people to select the most expensive service in the industry,'' spokesman Vivek Varma was quoted as saying.