ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Friday, August 9, 1996 TAG: 9608090088
SECTION: BUSINESS PAGE: A9 EDITION: METRO
NEW YORK - In the wake of the network crash that zapped America Online, rivals moved quickly Thursday to lure away angry subscribers.
Fledgling services - especially direct-access Internet and e-mail providers that are eager to gain a foothold - jumped on the on-line giant's misfortunes.
More than 6 million subscribers to America Online - the world's largest on-line service - were left without e-mail, Internet access and other services for nearly 19 hours Wednesday.
America Online President Steve Case scrambled Thursday to apologize to inconvenienced subscribers, and all but pledged the shutdown wouldn't happen again.
But other providers moved to capitalize on the void. AOL rival Prodigy highlighted its backup systems, which it said would prevent a similar crash. ``There's only so long that a consumer will tolerate `busy, try later,''' said Prodigy spokeswoman Carol Wallace. - New York Daily News Kodak ready to out-Fox Fuji
ROCHESTER, N.Y. - A month after Japanese arch-rival Fuji snatched Wal-Mart's photofinishing business, Eastman Kodak Co. said Thursday it is hanging its shingle on American storefronts for the first time in decades.
Kodak is paying $56.1 million for a 51 percent stake in Fox Photo Inc., the nation's largest photo specialty retailer, with 555 photofinishing minilabs and stores selling cameras, film and accessories.
Kodak didn't specify why it's taking the step now, but the timing is intriguing.
Last month, Tokyo-based Fuji agreed to buy the photofinishing operations of Wal-Mart Stores Inc., the largest U.S. provider of photofinishing services, for up to $600 million. Fuji replaced Kodak as supplier of paper for Wal-Mart's 1,200 in-store labs. - Associated Press First Union to buy insurance firm
First Union Corp. has signed an agreement to acquire Taylor & Clark Insurance Services Inc. of Fairfax. The agency specializes in providing insurance to businesses in Northern Virginia, Maryland and Washington, D.C.
Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.
The acquisition will expand First Union's business insurance services in that region with the addition of a larger distribution network and increased customer base.
Don McMullen, First Union executive vice president, said the alliance will enhance the company's business insurance capabilities and allow the bank to meet the financial needs of corporate customers. - Staff report
LENGTH: Medium: 55 linesby CNB