AOL to expand in 14 global markets

By Kenneth Li

NEW YORK (Reuters) - AOL plans an aggressive global expansion this year and will introduce a new version of its popular e-mail service this summer to include its AIM instant messaging platform, the chief executive of Time Warner Inc.'s online division said on Wednesday.

The company plans to refresh its Web portal and launch new ones in 14 countries over the next 18 months in a renewed focus on global markets, CEO Randy Falco told the Reuters Global Technology, Media and Telecoms Summit in New York.

AOL, which sold off its European dial-up Internet businesses in 2006 in an overhaul aimed at boosting online ad sales, plans to target new markets with its free portal.

This year, it has launched portals in India, Austria and the Netherlands. It will launch revamped versions in France, the UK and Germany, with more markets to come.

"I want to move as fast as we can," Falco said.

AOL is also testing a new version of its e-mail service and expects to launch it widely on its Internet portal page around the end of July.

"I thought we were a couple of generations behind our customers on a very important product," Falco said.

AOL aims to maintain a steady stream of new products to keep users on its sites. In an era of burgeoning new media outlets, failing to refresh technology poses a major business risk, he said.  Continued...