Surging volume of E-mail brings blackouts at AOL

Article Abstract:

America Online's E-mail system has been crashing recently due to a sharp increase in customer demand. The on-line industry is struggling with the E-mail surge that now totals about 20 million messages per day. Microsoft Network attributes the E-mail problem to additional users and longer messages. AOL, the largest E-mail provider, has experienced three outages that covered 15 hours in the last three weeks. AOL features about 530,000 simultaneous users on its system during peak hours. By comparison, just 140,000 AOL customers used the system during peak hours in 1996. AOL blames the recent shutdowns on a software bug that can strike any of its 20 e-mail computer servers and drag down the remaining 19 servers. AOL leads the online industry with 10 million customers, but has drawn criticism in the past for assuming more customers than its equipment can easily handle.

Videotex & Teletext, Telegraph & other communications, Services, Telecommunications industry, Online services, Internet services, America Online Inc., AOL, Telecommunications systems, Communications industry, Online information services, Company systems management, Information management, Online information service

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GeoCities broke privacy pledge, FTC declares

Article Abstract:

GeoCities Inc. settled a privacy-violation complaint by the FTC, which alleged that the company turned over confidential consumer data to Web-site advertisers.The company had promised customers that material would be kept confidential. Privacy advocates approved the FTC decision and some felt that the decision did not go far enough.

Comment:

Settled privacy-violation complaint by FTC, said co turned over confidential consumer data to ad

United States, Government regulation, Database Vendors, Company Planning/Goals, Media Planning/Goals, Legal/Government Regulation, Database industry, Article, GeoCities Inc.

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