The Death of an Online Company

Many may not remember when CompuServe and AOL battled for market share within the newly emerging market for dial-up home computing services. But at one time the idea of central repositories with all online resources in one place was thought to be appealing to consumers by tech companies, who probably couldn't imagine the caprice-driven web-surfing computer users of today who often enjoy the web for its opportunities for happenstance. Using Netscape support and AOL logins, many elements of the CompuServe site continue. The once revolutionary and now dated newspaper style opening screen still appears for would-be users. But CompuServe services have been shutting down this summer, such as the once vibrant OurWorld. Check out this satiric entry on CompuServe in the Encyclopedia Dramatica for another obituary.