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CNN Live At Daybreak

Prepaid Web Access: Cards Target Credit-Less Consumers & Biz Travelers

Aired December 04, 2003 - 06:46   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.


CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: Time for a little 'Business Buzz' right now. Are you tired of those monthly Internet bills? Well, you are not alone, and companies are listening, really.
Carrie Lee has the proof from the Nasdaq market site.

Good morning.

CARRIE LEE, CNN FINANCIAL NEWS CORRESPONDENT: Good morning again, Carol.

Well, you have heard of prepaid phone cards. Prepaid Internet access cards are also more and more hitting the mainstream. The business was worth about $30 million last year, and it's expected to almost double by 2004. This, according to researcher In-Stat/MDR.

A couple of big players getting into this space, including AOL, which, like CNN, is a Time Warner unit, also AT&T and Sprint. In fact, this summer, Wal-Mart started selling prepaid cards from AOL.

Now to use them, you need a computer, you need a phone line. Typically you buy a starter kit and that kit contains software that activates Web access.

These cards target business travelers. A lot of people use dial- up Internet services when they are away from their corporate networks. Also, they can appeal to people without credit because you can pay cash for them. Just like a phone card, they are a prepay system. So it's at least another option for people who would like to go online.

Quick check on the markets, looks like we could see a positive open for stocks this Thursday. We did have a mixed session at the close on Wednesday. The Nasdaq did touch above the 2000 level during the session for the first time since January of 2002. Couldn't hold there at the close, though. The Nasdaq composite did finish down 1 percent at 1960. The S&P lost a little bit of ground. The Dow ended higher.

Intel, one stock to watch today, after the close, giving a mid- quarter update. And, Carol, you know that's a big tech bellwether, so a lot of people waiting for that report.

Back to you.

COSTELLO: All right. Carrie Lee live from the Nasdaq market site. TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com




Biz Travelers>


Aired December 4, 2003 - 06:46   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: Time for a little 'Business Buzz' right now. Are you tired of those monthly Internet bills? Well, you are not alone, and companies are listening, really.
Carrie Lee has the proof from the Nasdaq market site.

Good morning.

CARRIE LEE, CNN FINANCIAL NEWS CORRESPONDENT: Good morning again, Carol.

Well, you have heard of prepaid phone cards. Prepaid Internet access cards are also more and more hitting the mainstream. The business was worth about $30 million last year, and it's expected to almost double by 2004. This, according to researcher In-Stat/MDR.

A couple of big players getting into this space, including AOL, which, like CNN, is a Time Warner unit, also AT&T and Sprint. In fact, this summer, Wal-Mart started selling prepaid cards from AOL.

Now to use them, you need a computer, you need a phone line. Typically you buy a starter kit and that kit contains software that activates Web access.

These cards target business travelers. A lot of people use dial- up Internet services when they are away from their corporate networks. Also, they can appeal to people without credit because you can pay cash for them. Just like a phone card, they are a prepay system. So it's at least another option for people who would like to go online.

Quick check on the markets, looks like we could see a positive open for stocks this Thursday. We did have a mixed session at the close on Wednesday. The Nasdaq did touch above the 2000 level during the session for the first time since January of 2002. Couldn't hold there at the close, though. The Nasdaq composite did finish down 1 percent at 1960. The S&P lost a little bit of ground. The Dow ended higher.

Intel, one stock to watch today, after the close, giving a mid- quarter update. And, Carol, you know that's a big tech bellwether, so a lot of people waiting for that report.

Back to you.

COSTELLO: All right. Carrie Lee live from the Nasdaq market site. TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com




Biz Travelers>