Even after the Web's emergence, some of the major players in the online world put their faith in the networks they were developing themselves to create a new business environment. America Online (AOL) took some time to convert from being a provider of information services on its own private network to becoming an Internet service provider. Having done so, it has linked up with computer manufacturer Sun, and merged with browser developer Netscape, to develop more comprehensive Internet services.

Microsoft continued work on Microsoft Network (MSN), as a quite separate set of communication channels and information services, for over a year after the Web had begun to have a perceptible impact on the way the Internet was used. But the rapid growth in the Internet population persuaded Microsoft to turn MSN into a gateway to the Internet. Having made the turn, Microsoft developed an Internet browser, Explorer, which quickly became the number 2, and is now the number 1 in the market. The way Microsoft integrated Explorer into its Windows operating system is part of the current US government action against the company.

Seeing the opportunities in providing information services over the Internet, Microsoft went into partnership with television network NBC to form a 24-hour news service, MSNBC. The most striking evidence of Microsoft's adoption of the peculiar customs of the Internet came with its recent purchase of Hot-mail, a service providing free email services to all comers.

Next week:

Poverty in the Media

- Why do poor people seem to come out only for Christmas? Do journalists turn stories of poverty into morality tales?