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AOL to Enter the VoIP Ring
FiveDollarYoBet writes "Looks like AOL is entering the VOIP racket. The service is free but it's really a Skype clone with a copper local number. They're also going to offer an unlimited version for $14.95 a month but you have to make the calls from your computer. It'll be interesting to see if it's more of a IM live chat or a true VoIP. The article also outlines their plans to take on MySpace in the near future."
The average net use cannot figure it out in 15 minutes. A good chunk of them would be unable to figure it out if given full documentation written for their literacy level, *and* they dedicated the entirety of their being for their entire lifetime to meeting the challenge.
Never underestimate the stupidity of your average netizen. There are people I get calls from where I am left wondering how the fuck they are sufficiently intelligent to succesfully sign up for the service, or how their much smarter friend who actually signed them up could possibly have been persuaded to unleash such a monster on the net.
People are fucking stupid. Work a hell desk for the general public and you will understand completely why people need AOL to dumb things down for them. That is why AOL has succeeded thusfar, and why they probably will succeed with this. This stuff might not be for people who understand they need their computer out of the box before their ISP can get them online(hey, at least she knew she needed a computer at all), but believe me, a lot of internet users aren't even that qualified.
> And once again AOL offers us another paid service any person can spend 15 minutes learning
> to get absolutely free and legal! Pity time and warner.
According to TFA you get an inbound phone number with this sucker, for free. That's kind-of spiffy, that's almost worth running AIM. Think about it, your stuck at an airport abroad but you have your laptop and WiFI. You need to contact your non-technical person so you hit the website and msg their mobile, and boom "you've got a phone call".
Now color me ignorant, but show me another service that would permit free incomming calls without a monthly fee.
There is no sanctuary. There is no sanctuary. SHUT UP! There is no shut up. There is no shut up.
What's odd is that their current offer in France is an ADSL modem with an (optionally) included voip handset meant to replace your regular phone.
;)
Why don't they do the same in the US ?
In France having a lot of stuff included is the norm for ADSL offerings and I know the US lags a bit because of the low population density, but adding a handset to a modem isn't that hard. Or do they target dialup users ?
And for 6.90€ extra, you can change the colour of the modem! Yay!
The ISP that typically sets the trend for bundling gadgets here is "Free". Currently their ADSL2+ offering comes with a kit consisting of the ADSL2+ modem with 1 USB port, 5 Ethernet ports, a WiFi Mimo interface, a phone interface. Then there is the multimedia hub with the TV tuners (including HD), a terrestrial digital tuner, a number of connectors (SCART, etc, including HDMI, S/P DIF), WiFi link to the ADSL modem and a remote. All of this is actually Linux based
You can also stream your computer's content to your TV on your LAN through VLC via the multimedia hub.
The kit comes with the TV (through ADSL in a VLC like stream), free phone and ADSL2+ for 30€ per month.
Why anybody would pick AOL over something like that is beyond me...
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What's with the overuse of fighting metaphors? Seems every third article or so is titled using a metaphor related to fighting. Most commonly it's "X to be the next Y killer?" Maybe some people need spend more time playing competitive video games.