tdog 0 #1 October 13, 2005 Remember that clean home page of the search engine we know and love... Why in the hell would they want AOL??? QuotePHILADELPHIA (AP) - Google (GOOG) and Comcast (CMCSA) are talking with Time Warner (TWX) about acquiring ownership stakes in America Online's Web portal AOL, a person familiar with the discussions said Wednesday. Under the deal, the three companies would form a new entity through which they would jointly own the Web portal, according to the person, who requested anonymity because release of the information was not authorized. AOL has been successful of late at generating online content, but America Online's business prospects have suffered as more people switch from dial-up Internet access to high-speed connections. If the deal is finalized, one possibility would be for the AOL portal to replace the broadband Internet websites of New York-based Time Warner and Comcast. The three companies plan to leverage their content and consumer reach to create a Web portal powerhouse, the person said. Google is the nation's most popular search engine, while Comcast and Time Warner are the top two cable operators. The preliminary discussions follow reports that one of Google's biggest rivals, Microsoft Corp., and Time Warner have been discussing for several months a possible alliance that would unite AOL with MSN, another major portal. A deal between AOL and MSN would loom as a financial threat to Google because AOL is the biggest player in its online advertising network. AOL accounted for 11% of Google's $2.6 billion in revenue during the first half of this year. Mountain View, Calif.-based Google contacted Comcast last week to gauge the cable giant's interest in such a deal, the person said. Philadelphia-based Comcast had been on the prowl for content to avoid the commoditization of its cable lines. No price for any deal has yet been discussed, as the talks remain at an early stage, this person said. It's not clear how closely Google and Comcast are aligned in their talks with Time Warner, The Wall Street Journal reported Wednesday in its online edition. Google has been seeking a closer relationship with cable operators because of their close ties with content programmers. Asked about the deal, a Google spokesman said Wednesday that "Google and AOL have a healthy global partnership, and AOL remains a valued partner. Your inquiry is about rumored conversations and we're not able to respond to questions of this type." An AOL spokeswoman declined to comment. AOL was the fifth-most-popular Web brand in September, according to Nielsen/NetRatings, while Google came in fourth. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
wildcard451 0 #2 October 13, 2005 Does The Google have the power to unfuck AOL? That would officially make them all powerful. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Slappie 9 #3 October 13, 2005 QuoteDoes The Google have the power to unfuck AOL? That would officially make them all powerful. I would build shires to Google if they can pull this one off. "Find out just what any people will quietly submit to and you have found out the exact measure of injustice and wrong which will be imposed upon them." Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ReBirth 0 #4 October 13, 2005 Google...a very altruistic company....teaming up with Comcast...one of the most evil companies to ever exist.....investing in AOL/Time-Warner (in same category as Comcast). Strange days indeed. Bottom line is there is one goal behind this. Kill Yahoo. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
riddler 0 #5 October 13, 2005 QuoteBottom line is there is one goal behind this. You forgot the improbable perception that they can all make money. Google is screwing themselves. I wouldn't pay $2 to acquire the POS called AOL.Trapped on the surface of a sphere. XKCD Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
nerd137 0 #6 October 13, 2005 QuoteQuoteDoes The Google have the power to unfuck AOL? That would officially make them all powerful. I would build shires to Google if they can pull this one off. Amen to that! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
StreetScooby 5 #7 October 13, 2005 Google simply has too much money to spend, and they don't know what to do with it.We are all engines of karma Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mnealtx 0 #8 October 14, 2005 It could be even worse... Micro$oft make a bid for it!! *note: link is NOT to M$ - check it out*Mike I love you, Shannon and Jim. POPS 9708 , SCR 14706 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
popsjumper 2 #9 October 14, 2005 QuoteIt could be even worse... Micro$oft make a bid for it!! .... You should be spanked for even thinking about something so evil as that....get your mind cleaned up and go over to the Butt Sex poll.... My reality and yours are quite different. I think we're all Bozos on this bus. Falcon5232, SCS8170, SCSA353, POPS9398, DS239 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
