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AOL Buying CompuServe? Users Voice Opinions About Possible Takeover

If they wanted AOL, they would have subscribed to AOL, most say.

By Mindy Charski, PCWorld   

On Wednesday H&R Block, which owns 80 percent of CompuServe, confirmed that talks were under way to sell the service. But officials would not reveal which company they were talking to about a takeover.

%dquotI%squotll stay on [with CompuServe], but if it becomes a toy I%squotm done,%dquot said Ronald Stanziale, senior vice president of Great Lakes American, a company that insures other insurance companies. Stanziale said he prefers CompuServe%squots business-oriented image.

%dquotThe marketing approach gives you an impression of what the service is about,%dquot he noted. %dquotAOL is geared toward the general user--my nephew gets on there and chats with people all over the place. That%squots not what I%squotm on CompuServe for.%dquot

Stanziale said he uses CompuServe%squots technical forums, where he has discussions with other professionals and can download software upgrades.

Bill Burstein also visits CompuServe forums when he has a problem with his computer or a question about a program. He described CompuServe forums as %dquotvery, very good,%dquot but said AOL forums are less helpful.

%dquotSometimes the updates of the files aren%squott quite as new, and often [downloading information] is a little slower,%dquot he reported. But when he%squots in the mood to check the weather, look at magazines, or play his favorite word game, he heads to AOL.

%dquotIt%squots kind of a fun, general place to go,%dquot he said, adding that he has mixed feelings about merging the two services. %dquotCompuServe has a distinctive personality which I would hate to see swallowed up into AOL%squots personality.%dquot

Another CompuServe user, Brett Stauning of Information Management Systems, is concerned that a merger will mean the same access problems that have plagued AOL users: %dquotMy biggest worry would be getting a busy line.%dquot

But analyst Ted Julian of research firm International Data Corporation said that the additional network infrastructure AOL would acquire from CompuServe could allow AOL to drop its problematic flat rate and offer value-added services.

Members may be able to get multiple e-mail addresses or vanity domain names for their Web sites, such as www.mary.com. Subscribers paying a higher fee may receive rebates if they are unable to get into the service after a few tries, or they may get more direct access to technical support.

Others worried that the merger might create a dangerous monopoly that could determine cost and access to the Internet. AOL declined to comment.