Today's EarthLink Newsletter

This morning we had this Newsletter from EarthLink (Public, NASDAQ:ELNK). We have been Dial-up EarthLink subscribers for nearly ten years (the Newsletter actually brought the dial-up issue to our attention - we downgraded to an email only account). A special introductory offer was bundled with an Apple laptop we purchased in 1998. The laptop featured an IBM PowerPC 750 processor and was known as the PowerBook G3.

Today's EarthLink Newsletter -- Linux for the Desktop
" That's right - free"

EarthLink, Inc. provides integrated communication services and related value-added services to individual consumers and business customers utilizing Internet Protocol, or IP, based technologies. EarthLink’s core service offerings are dial-up and wireline broadband Internet access services and value-added services. Additional service offerings include IP-based voice services, municipal wireless broadband services and services for business customers.

EarthLink 10Q
2 Nov 2007

It is very interesting to see EarthLink promoting Linux on the Desktop. We are guessing that EarthLink wants to become part of the cloud too (related: Seeing Through the Clouds & Keeping the PowerPC Dream Alive). However, it seems the best way to do that may be changing...

After thorough review and analysis of our municipal wireless business we have decided that making significant further investments in this business could be inconsistent with our objective of maximizing shareholder value, accordingly, at this time, we are considering our strategic alternatives with respect to this business.

Rolla P. Huff
EarthLink President and CEO
16 Nov 2007

What that means is that Earthlink will probably try to break up and sell (or just close) their municipal wireless businesses. EarthLink. We revolve around you™ is the marketing moniker. Here is the pitch: EarthLink offers what every user should expect from their Internet experience: high-quality connectivity, minimal online intrusions and customizable features. Whether it's dial-up, high-speed, voice, web hosting, wireless or "EarthLink Extras" like home networking or security, EarthLink connects people to the power and possibilities of the Internet. We have no complaints about EarthLink, but we wonder how they can compete moving ahead. They are losing money. Reading the last few posts on the recently terminated corporate blog is telling: Earthling. The Internet sure has changed things fast.

OK, so, EarthLink is promoting Linux because it is free. Others are promoting free storage of email and even documents. What is left to buy as each company does their best to be of the greatest value and marginalize others. For example, free Linux means users don't need an operating system from Microsoft. It seems Google's Search, Ads and Apps is the best approach to disintermediate as much of the competition as possible (let's see if the wireless spectrum bid was just a ploy to get the mobile operators opening up or the real-thing -- Google may bid to lose). What is left?!

1. Advertising or subscription based Internet TV.

2. Pay-per-use or subscription based communication-computing.

There are only a couple of things that transcend technology. First and most importantly, the user, and second, the content. There will be a growing number of networks revolving around the user. We think there will be a number of clouds hovering about too. These are utility businesses that support distribution to and from users and their means of entertainment/information/interaction. Earthling was a good name for a blog. We still have an Apple laptop (the new ones have not had dial-up modems for some time), but now it is an Intel Core 2 Duo MacBook Pro (and still from Apple). We have an iPod too (you know that iTunes distribution and convenience thing, plus it all 'just works' with the laptop, etc.). We continue to work on the next EFIKA...

The Community is the Computer - a Super Computer. Go Zig!

R&B