AOL UK is to open its subscription-only services to all internet users, in a move that will put its news website in direct competition with other portals such as MSN, Yahoo! and Google News.

Simon Hinde, head of AOL's day news team, confirmed the move in a speech at the Newswatch 2006 conference at Bournemouth Media School.

"There are certain organisations, in niches, who can charge for specialist information. In the general information markets, free content is here to stay,"