The ongoing Absa/M-Web saga is getting a little long in the tooth, but that didn`t stop M-Web from releasing another attack of words on the free Internet model, its sustainability, and the effect that the supposed failure of Absa`s free Internet offering would have on Absa`s brand.
The volatile M-Web/Absa mix is a story created more in the minds of its protagonists than in reality.
Jason Norwood-Young, technology editor, ITWeb
The media, rather than being surfeited by the mudslinging between the two parties, seem to be all too keen to fuel the flames. A front-page story in both Business Report and Business Day paid testament to the fact that media interest is not waning.
M-Web`s insistence on publicly airing its views is curious. Following its announcement to de-list, and its historical lack of profitability, many Internet users that I have discussed the press release with seem to feel it shows a sense of desperation within Antonie Roux`s ISP. Perhaps Roux should take care of his business internally, rather than stick his chin out and wait to get punched.
Absa has since responded in kind to M-Web`s press release, and the media waits with anticipation to see who will rise to the bait next, and whether Absa will take legal action.
Judging from Absa`s initial announcement to get its lawyers on the case, Roux could get quite a mighty blow on the old kisser. Despite M-Web`s statement that the press release was passed through its lawyers, it still stinks of a court case waiting to happen. M-Web should have saved itself the legal bills and passed the release through a sub-editor - the spelling and grammar are atrocious, and leaving statements like "Affinity and Santie Botha misleading public" in the release is asking for trouble.
Perhaps a court case is what the beleaguered Cape Townian ISP wants. Perhaps it is taking the view of "any publicity is good publicity", and a long, drawn-out court case with a large international company and a major bank would give it all the publicity it could ask for.
However, it should take its own warnings to heart: "Santie Botha and Affinity are putting the public at risk of losing e-mail addresses and data when the service follows world trends and closes down," says Roux in the said press release. If M-Web loses a couple of million to legal action from Absa, Affinity, and perhaps Santie Botha herself, it could sink the company quite effectively. What will happen to M-Web`s customers` e-mail addresses and data then?
Sometimes, as journalists, we are tempted to avoid these types of tit-for-tat stories, as inevitably the parties involved come out of it looking like idiots. Furthermore, a story essentially based purely on comment and opinion can move minds and markets when it contains no depth (Absa`s shares fell 50c on the day the press release was issued).
The volatile M-Web/Absa mix is a story created more in the minds of its protagonists than in reality. Just like the Internet, this virtual being has serious repercussions in the real world. I hope that the real world effects are not too damaging for the parties concerned.
Share