NEW YORK : AOL plans to offer its e-mail, software and an array of products free of cost to broadband users, Time Warner President and Chief Operating Officer Jeff Bewkes said on Wednesday. Bewkes said such an offering is being made for the first time by AOL "Products like integrated software and e-mail as well as applications for safety and security including parental controls, " would be provided to broadband users free of charge.

Industry analysts say the move is aimed at improving the online advertising business of AOL.
Bewkes said in a statement that the firm found out that many AOL customers want to keep using these AOL products when they migrate to broadband, though they would not like to pay extra. AOL was telling them that "'You've Got Mail - for Free,'" he said. As part of this, AOL has already offered e-mail accounts to its subscribers numbering around 24 million, most of it in the United States, United Kingdom, France and Germany.

With this move, AOL plans to maintain as well as increase its commitment with more and more internet users who would migrate to broadband, according to AOL Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Jonathan Miller. Time Warner always favoured free-access programs on AOL including TV series, news and music in a abid to take on internet giant Yahoo! and search engine behemoth Google. As internet users are dumping paid low-speed connections, AOL has been forced to slash hundreds of call center jobs as part of an exercise to offset a dip in its customer base. AOL merged with Time Warner in 2000-01. It was formerly known as America Online. But after the merger, Time Warner relegated AOL to a mere division of its huge business sprawling, entertainment, movie making and television and publishing, including Warner Bros. Entertainment, Turner Broadcasting System, the parent firm of CNN, Time magazine.