AOL's new screen name ends in 'TV'
America Online wants to make the jump from your computer to your TV set. The Internet access giant said Wednesday that it's teaming with
electronics maker Philips for a set-top box that weaves the online service into TV signals.
It's not the only computer company taking up residence atop the TV.
Microsoft, which already owns WebTV, announced its collaboration with
Thomson/RCA on several projects, including a personal digital video
recorder.
Both announcements were made in advance of the Consumer Electronics Show,
which opens here today and runs through Sunday.
Cable and, more recently, satellites have transformed TV into a medium
that can offer hundreds of channels. As online and wireless services migrate to
the TV, the set could eventually offer millions of programming choices,
AOL's Barry Schuler says.
"Television is at the beginning of a dramatic change. Ten years from now,
it
will be a completely different device," he says. "TV is becoming more
useful
and fun."
The first AOLTV device (due in late spring or early summer; no price set)
will connect to an antenna, cable or satellite feed, a phone line and a TV set. A setup procedure configures the AOL log-on process and an on-screen programming guide.
Users, armed with either a remote control or a keyboard, will be able to
send instant messages to an online buddy, for example, while watching
(italic)Ally McBeal(/italic). A subscriber's Buddy List could remain in the
corner of the screen, alerting viewers when friends log on.
Many of AOL's functions will be translucently superimposed on the TV
display. During e-mailing, the TV image is reduced to one-quarter of the
screen. Web surfers can remove the TV image entirely if they choose.
"You are always watching TV, and we are not trying to turn your TV into a
computer," Schuler says.
"Everything you have on AOL will automatically work on AOLTV. If you're
watching CNN and hear about a company and want to buy stock, you can
execute a trade."
One-fourth of AOL members combine TV viewing with their online activity, he
says. AOLTV "is really a marriage of the connected lifestyle people have
adopted."