America Online’s investment banker Robertson Stephens & Co has been making some interesting recommendations to the online service provider that may increase shareholder value, but also upset still more of its burgeoning subscriber base. The bank says in its report after the company’s year-end results last week that price increases are possible over the next year and recommends some sly ways the company could introduce them without too many people noticing. It suggests the subtle methods could include elimination of discounts on membership payments, charging for the second and more ‘screen names’ – at the moment AOL can support five e-mail address on one account. The company’s 10-K form annual report is due at the end of September and that should reveal what the auditors think of the company’s somewhat questionable accounting procedures over the past few quarters.
