AOL: “Certain Death or Free Plus Ads”?

Henry Blodget:

The WSJ reports that AOL is considering making online access to its service–including, importantly, email–free. (AOL email users currently have to pay for one of the company’s subscription plans, although much of the rest of the company’s content is already free.) Per the WSJ, this move would vaporize about one-quarter of the company’s revenue, or $2 billion. The company estimates that it would also result in the loss of 8 million paying subscribers.

Blodget also notes that Vonage’s recent IPO continues to be black comedy (public at 17, now 8.25 after just a month….