These will complement the PC and provide a small, simple device to access the Internet from anywhere in the home. Two of the devices use LCD flat panels, while one uses the traditional CRT monitor. The first device, the AOL Gateway countertop appliance, looks like little more than a flat-panel monitor. The base can be bent 180 degrees, so it can be either a stand or a unit hung under a counter or cabinet. It uses a wireless keyboard with a built-in mouse.
Users can also interact with the system via a stylus or using the touch-sensitive screen.
The system is expected to ship by the end of the year. The second unit, the AOL Gateway wireless Web pad, is about the size of a laptop and about as thick. It has a built-in digital camera and speakers, and uses the same wireless technology as a wireless phone. The Web pad should be available in early 2001. The AOL Gateway desktop appliance is a CRT-based unit that will be cheaper than the other two since it uses the less expensive CRT monitor.