AOL Plus High-Speed Service

America Online is developing a version of its flagship AOL online service tailored for consumers with high-speed Internet access. The new AOL Plus is a broadband-oriented package slated to be launched later this year when AOL begins selling subscriptions to its service bundled with High-Speed Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) access from local telephone companies. To date, AOL has announced partnership agreements to resell DSL service from Bell Atlantic and SBC Communications. The company also is aggressively pursuing the right to be carried on the high-speed data lines of cable television operators.AOL will be joining other Web portals that have already weighed in with an aggressive strategy for promoting and distributing streaming media content. One of the uncertain factors facing all the major portals is the extent to which their servers can deal with the expected demand when millions of subscribers to their traditional dial-up service convert to high-speed and then start tapping into streaming media content and enhanced electronic commerce. AOL Plus is developing a system that will offer a feature that detects the connection speed of the user and sends content appropriate for the userís bandwidth connection.AOL Plus is expected to be priced at near $40 per month.