AOL Time Warner's $100 million investment in e-tailer Amazon.com this week highlights an emerging, high-stakes battle between the media giant and Microsoft. Longtime foes in areas such as instant messaging and online access, AOL and Microsoft are facing off in the e-commerce arena--specifically over technology that makes it easier to navigate the Web and make purchases online. So-called e-wallets are shaping up as a key leverage point for controlling how consumers and businesses use the Internet. According to a source within AOL, Monday's deal was aimed at boosting the company's e-wallet and related authentication services by tapping Amazon's e-commerce technology--a key element behind the e-tailer's reputation for strong customer service. The source added that signing with Amazon was a direct means of competing against Microsoft's high-profile authentication service, called Passport.
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