As more companies embrace free access, many customers may begin to question why they should line AOL's pockets with 22 bucks a month.

FORBES: Free For All

With top worldwide market share in PCs and tight relationships with on-line service providers like AOL, Compaq can claim to control most of the pieces of the Internet pipeline.

FORBES: Desktop battle plan

AOL's rise to become the dominant provider of on-line services, as told by Kara Swisher, a technology writer on the Wall Street Journal, is surprisingly gripping given that its main protagonist Mr Case defies all Ms Swisher's attempts to humanise him.

ECONOMIST: America Online