They are being fairly careful about it, but they are walking very rapidly toward becoming a portal. They have a lot of other services gunning for them, so they have become most keen about building user loyalty so the users don't have a reason to go someplace else.

Microsoft is moving out of selling boxes into selling real, true services.

[Others say the deal could also raise flags over the combined AOL Time Warner's ability to limit access to Internet content.] From the consumer point of view, there may be questions about whether you'll have to be an AOL subscriber to get Time magazine, ... That combination of media with the access is one through which you may be able to block access to your competitors' subscribers.

From the consumer point of view, there may be questions about whether you'll have to be an AOL subscriber to get Time magazine. That combination of media with the access is one through which you may be able to block access to your competitors' subscribers.

[With Windows Live, Microsoft] is asking people to entrust a lot of their lives in the hands of Microsoft, ... Trust is a loaded word for Microsoft.

Taking a close look at all technical options is the right thing for them (AOL and MSN) to be doing.