From: dlv@bwalk.dm.com (Dr. Dimitri Vulis)
Date: Tue, 2 Jan 1996 14:38:03 +0800
To: cypherpunks@toad.com
Subject: Re: Guerilla Internet Service Providers
In-Reply-To: <9601012017.AA15101@alpha>
Message-ID: <Z442gD2w165w@bwalk.dm.com>
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain


m5@dev.tivoli.com (Mike McNally) writes:
> For how long is this really going to be the case?  As the whole world
> of HTTP and related things (like Java & VRML) advances in capability
> and sophistication, how long will the Compuserve/AOL/Genie "Big Online
> Service" model continue to make sense?

For as long as they're able to provide information and services that
customers want, which are not available via "generic" small ISP's.

For example, one can read the New York Times (and many other periodicals)
via AOL; one can read the NCSA forum on CompuServe.

One has to be pretty dumb to use AOL or CS as an _Internet_ provider.
Yet a lot of very sharp people use these services.

The content providers aren't willing to put their wares on "generic"
internet, and won't be willing to in the foreseeable future.

---

Dr. Dimitri Vulis
Brighton Beach Boardwalk BBS, Forest Hills, N.Y.: +1-718-261-2013, 14.4Kbps