AOL Items

AOL's stock will probably bump up today, with the Wall Street Journal's "Heard on The Street" column (subscription required) arguing that the sum of the parts is worth more than the whole. Elsewhere in the paper, the always excellent Thomas Weber notes that cable companies (like Cox) are introducing "price tiered" high-speed Internet access, with 256K speed being offered for just $3-a-month more than the cost of AOL's 56K dial up service.

It does seem likely that consumers will spring for a six-fold increase in speed for only a $3 increase in price. Especially since AOL is now so loaded with invasive and irritating advertising.