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talks break down between Microsoft and AOL

06/18/2001

Talks break down between Microsoft and AOL.

Don't look for AOL to be included in the WinXP distribution.

Apparently including RealPlayer was the sticking point.

RealPlayer, which lets users listen to music and watch streaming video online, competes with Microsoft's own Windows Media Player. Microsoft's Player is a key part of the news Window XP, due out in October.

People close to the talks said Microsoft tried several times to persuade AOL to somehow "disadvantage" the RealPlayer software, to the benefit of its own software.

"The talks broke down over Microsoft's determination to control digital music on the internet," said John Buckley of AOL.