AOL Debuts Free Web Mail

by Shankar Gupta

ONE WEEK AFTER RELEASING A beta upgrade to its free Instant Messenger service, America Online Wednesday launched yet another beta version of the service, this time adding free, ad-supported e-mail. The new beta version, which replaces the May 2 beta edition, allows AIM users to sign up for an e-mail address--their screen name at AIM.com--during the installation process. After doing so, users will be able to access their e-mail through the AOL browser window, which appears when an AIM user signs on.

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What's ahead for Net, digital entertainment
The Internet and digital technology are changing entertainment at lightning speed. The coming years will scramble concepts of music-making, movies, TV networks and advertising. Last week, USA TODAY's Kevin Maney assembled a panel of some of the industry's most influential players to talk about what's ahead. The discussion took place in San Francisco in front of about 200 members of Silicon Valley's Churchill Club. Maney moderated. Following are excerpts.

Topic: Anyone can create media

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