AOL to Layoff 700 Workers

By David Worthington, BetaNews

November 2, 2004, 8:49 PM

As first reported by the Washington Post, America Online is expected to eliminate more than 700 jobs from its workforce next month. The majority of the layoffs will occur at AOL's Dulles, Virginia headquarters where nearly 5,000 are presently employed. Analysts cite AOL's dwindling subscriber base; however, a company spokesperson refused to validate that assertion. Officially, AOL has no comment.

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By itsjustme2

edited Jan 11, 2007 - 11:53 PM

You are sick of cleaning viruses off of AOL user's computers? AOL's "Content" (AOL's viruses)? First off, I can't believe people actually let you work on their computers, much less let you anywhere near them.
AOL certainly does NOT put any sort of virus or malware on peoples computers. They simply provide an easy to use GUI that makes sense to the average Joe. Of course then, the average Joe believes he understands the Internet and browses to lots of unfamiliar web sites and downloads everything he sees. How is this AOL's fault?

AOL is free now for anyone with broadband and includes a firewall/antivirus/spyware program. They also have warnings about downloading files everywhere on their service, including in the terms of service that users are required to agree to the first time an account is created (too bad for them that they don't read it).

You should be ashamed for your total incompetence displayed in this post. I think you should consider finding a new profession.... Can you say "would you like fries with that?"

Score: 0

By px208

posted Nov 5, 2004 - 2:28 AM

I have some inside information I would like to share. Please no flames, but questions are encouraged.

AOL sees themselves as a content provider, Not an ISP. In the grand scheme of things they (AOL & TW Management) see AOL as becoming more and more content oriented.

AOL will be less of a independent unit in the future, and more of an integrated product.

Watch for the AOL client to disappear as we know it. . The AOL client provided a common set of controls that was primarily a way of controlling the environment that AOL users experienced. Back in the days of Windows 95, the OS had limited capability. Heck, dial up networking didn’t even work right. At the time it made sense to have a controllable client that made the operating environment exactly the same on all computers.

AOL is actively working on creating stand alone products that provide a "user experience". They understand that their current model is not sustainable. Time Warner wants to push AOL content through a myriad of devices and channels. In fact, don’t be too surprised if your local cable provider starts providing AOL centered, web enabled set-top full fledged PC’s with DVR, VOIP and a whole bunch of goodies.

Aol will be much different than you know…

Score: 0

By mjm01010101

posted Nov 3, 2004 - 12:49 AM

AOL has about 10-15 years left, at this rate, probably less.

Instead of buying time warner, they should have bought AT&T broadcand/Excite@home, it would have been easy given their stock value and it was fairly predictable even in 1999 that dial-up wasn't going to last.

Blame AOL management, it was easy back then to see the writing on the wall and they spent their money in the wrong place.

Good riddance. AOL really went downhill right around the net's explosion in '96-'97.

Score: 0

By razzlefrog

posted Nov 3, 2004 - 4:39 PM

AOL didn't "buy" Time Warner. They merged 55% to 45% and in the end it cost Time Warner far more than AOL. And Time Warner Cable has its own broadband option called Road Runner as well as tons of content that was supposed to help keep users with AOL.

If anybody made a big mistake it was Time Warner. They took a company with a stock price around 70 and turned it into a company with a stock price around 17 by adding a failing business. Steve Case basically bamboozled the TW execs and while he still walked away a millionaire, thousand of people's retirement funds were destroyed.

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By CyberInferno

posted Nov 3, 2004 - 2:36 PM

I agree. AOL is really screwing itself. People are realizing that they can get 50X the speed for less than twice the price, and the bring-your-own-connection thing is a completely pointless venture. No one wants to pay $120 a year for an AOL spam-ridden e-mail account, and the once useful AOL keywords are now a joke.

Score: 0

By justinb

posted Nov 3, 2004 - 12:48 AM

YAY :D

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By CyberInferno

posted Nov 3, 2004 - 2:33 PM

There's nothing to say, "Yay" about. 700 people just lost their jobs, you d***head.

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By joeshmoe7

edited Nov 5, 2004 - 6:44 AM

calling someone a d***head cause they say "Yay" to this, really, i have to disagree with you on that one. "Analysts cite AOL's dwindling subscriber base".... that in itself i see as a very good thing, people are wising up to their b.s. Naturally, someones going to lose their jobs from that, yeah that always sucks, but as a pc tech. i pray for an ever larger decline in aol's subscriber base, until its nothing more then a bad memory. And i really hope all those people find better paying jobs at companies that are a little more beneficial to society as a whole.

Score: 0

By justinb

posted Nov 4, 2004 - 1:32 AM

er i meant YAY at the "dwindling subscriber base" comment :p not the losing of jobs

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By fpo703

posted Nov 3, 2004 - 1:32 PM

And to think that AOL is still hiring people, too.

D'OH!

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By dstan7695

posted Feb 13, 2005 - 2:38 PM

I am so sick of cleaning the viruses off of AOL users computers. AOL is in a deathspin, selling out anyway they can to stay financially solvent. Who is going to pay $29 a month for DSL and then another $20 a month to have AOL's "Content" (AOL's viruses) to be put on their computer? Yes, people are finally starting to get the picture. Bye Bye AOL. It's about time.

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By Ryanmb86

edited Jun 15, 2005 - 9:39 PM

Could someone please explain to me how AOL content translates to virsues? i don't remember my computer crashing when i was watching a 20 minute interview with wilco on keyword sessions.......oh and to use your aol with your broadband connection its actually 9.95.....so yeah that still might not seem worth it to alot of you who seem to despise AOL, but still better then 20 bucks haha

Score: 0