If the notion of an indefinitely free Web was naive, it was perpetuated by the unbridled hubris of the dot-com industry and Wall Street, which created the myth that growth through Web site traffic would automatically turn into cash. When that fallacy was exposed, many paper empires built on inflated stock prices came tumbling down.
The consequences of this debacle are not only financial: It could lead to a cyberlibertarian's nightmare, a place where large corporate interests define the online experience for the vast majority of the public. That, in turn, raises the specter of a new kind of digital divide that splits society into multiple classes depending on their ability to pay--a system that severely restricts the free flow of information as we know it today.
Part 3: Connection is King
Stubborn AOL may have last laugh
After years of mocking America Online as hopelessly "old media," Web portals are reviewing the subscribed service to see if they can replicate at least part of its strategy in an effort to salvage their own businesses.
Free ISP concept too good to be true
The idea sounded irresistibly simple: Give consumers free Internet access, draw traffic, and charge advertisers for exposure to those surfers. But advertisers wanted to reach different kinds of people, namely those willing to spend money.
Speeding toward another revolution
The Internet world may undergo yet another sea change if high-speed broadband connections become commonplace in the home. New content and services not possible with today's standard dial-up speeds may redefine the medium once again.
Read Part 1: A new world order
