duuuudde nikhil - again man. why dont you just chill out? nobody really cares about AOL nor about your opinion on it. just an advise bro. be cool. get some action. and if you need to know before you get action - then basically mtnl ISP users will be taken to this page everytime they log in… ja chal.

Amit: I’m an MTNL subscriber, and one doesn’t have to log in - just switch the modem on. So no question of MTNL AOL page popping up on login.

This is an established practice in the US with major Internet companies slugging it out to put up Co-branded home pages in partnership with major ISP’s.

beyond unlimited usage ADSL, it still might make some sense for MTNL. Dial up and “usage based fee” broadband connections require some sort of a log-in or a desktop client and AOL and MTNL can hope to capitalize on the page views generated by users who dont care to change their default home page in the internet browsers ( which contrary to popular perception - is a LOT of people).

Besides from AOL’s perspective, effort required to put up a co branded portal is a minimal variable cost ( of having to create a “Presented by MTNL” logo and analytics to monitor page views on this URL ).

For MTNL, it is an additional revenue stream ( assuming they are not paying the Portal company some money to run this co-branded website).

It’s called Power Of Default .  In US , AoL messenger is one of the top IM program just because it comes bundled with the ISP Package .

Prashant and Chandra: MTNLs broadband doesn’t require a login/desktop client...there’s no bundling. Also, in the release - there’s no talk of bundling with the package.

Dear Nikhil, I think you need to go to US or Europe and study the markets before you ask Why ? etc. It feels bad for a Jorno like you to ask such basic questions. Your credibility is at Stake Yo. Chandra has articulated it so well.

Just chill guys.  Nikhil has done his home work before asking the Q. I use a always-on MTNL broadband and one doesnot need to log-in.

Cheers.