AOL Unveiling Range Of New Products

America Online says it is developing new
software for the Casio Casseopeia and Compaq Aero palm-sized personal computers to access, send and receive AOL e-mail. AOL is also talking features on an upcoming Macintosh browser, and is expected to announce set-top box developments.

Casio will distribute the software with the Cassiopeia, the company said. Julie Mason, a spokesperson for AOL, told Newsbytes that
the new software is in the final stages of development and will be
followed by similar software for other portable appliances.

"It's for AOL e-mail only," she said, adding that the other features
of AOL cannot be accessed using the software.

Plans call for AOL to formally unveil the software to the public at
the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas when it opens on Thursday,
soon after which AOL users will be able to download the software
directly from the main AOL service.

While AOL has always remained coy on access to its main service from
non-PC and Mac operating system devices, Steve Case, the online
giant's CEO, has been promising this facility will come quite soon.

AOL is expected to also announce at CES it has developed AOL-specific
Internet set-top boxes (STBs) for home TV users. Newsbytes' sources
suggest the STB will also be Windows CE-driven, a move that indicates
that full AOL access from other Windows CE-enabled devices is not that
far off.

The No. 1 Internet access provider also plans a sneak preview of its new
AOL
5.0 for Macintosh at the MacWorld Conference in San Francisco this week.
It will be available to subscribers "later this year."

Among the new features of Mac AOL 5.0 is "You've Got Pictures." Under
a partnership with Eastman Kodak, this feature enables subscribers to
receive photos e-mail-style. Users will be prompted to the arrival of
photos by a "You've Got Pictures" icon and the familiar "You've Got Mail"
voice.

There's also a new interactive calendar, a personalized AOL welcome
screen with sites subscribers most often visit, and a new search feature
allowing subscribers to search the Internet without leaving AOL service.

The new version also enables users to switch screen names in Auto AOL
Flash sessions without redialing, making it easier for travelers or for
subscribers using AOL internationally to avoid costly connection charges.

AOL's Web site may be found at http://www.aol.com.

Reported by Newsbytes.com, http://www.newsbytes.com.