Article Abstract:
While signing up for on-line services is becoming easier, cancelling services once billing has been initiated is increasingly difficult. Many providers such as America Online (AOL) offer diskettes in mailboxes and magazines that allow users to browse the Internet at no cost. A credit card number is often the only prerequisite for signing on. The credit card, however, is automatically billed every month until the service is contacted and cancelled in accordance with often stringent cancellation guidelines. AOL, for example, does not allow customers to cancel its service via e-mail. Another example is Netcom On-line Communications Services. Netcom forces its customers to adhere to strict cancellation deadlines, including notifying the company by the 25th of each month by 5 p.m., Pacific time, or it will not guarantee that additional monthly charges will not incur. It is ironic that an industry that provides wide ranges of 24 hour sign-ups for customers has not developed a standard cancellation system.
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Article Abstract:
Online chat services have become an important form of communication, and advances in technology, including real-time, 3D, and video chat rooms will increase their popularity. Chat services provide forums where people can express themselves regardless of their age, identity, location, social background, or physical limitations. This gives people an opportunity to go beyond their disadvantages or disabilities, but allows some participants to feel they can misbehave with impunity. In three-dimensional chat-rooms, users select avatars to represent them. Developing technology will allow real-time video chat rooms. Text-based chat services, including e-mail group mailing lists, address every topic from political organizing to support groups. The Microsoft Network currently hosts two real-time chat services, one in a comic-strip visual format and the other in a 3D interactive space. Technology from Onlive Technologies allows voices of users to be heard in chat rooms.
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Article Abstract:
The Internet has spawned an array of partnerships and alliances that are creating a new industry structure that is expected to transform current on-line services into mass-market products. On-line providers typically provide software, content or Internet access. At this point, most companies are focussing on their specific strengths, rather than all three areas. For example, America Online is a leading content provider. The company has enhanced its content offerings with plans to use Internet browsers from both Microsoft and Netscape Communications. Microsoft hopes to excel in all three areas, but has recently limited its content efforts. Netscape has focused on software and expects the America Online alliance to improve its market presence.
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