TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Prodigy and America Online Cut Prices: Computer on-line rivals Prodigy and America Online waged a mini price war after Prodigy introduced a cheaper membership option and reduced an hourly rate. The new Prodigy option, announced early in the day, costs $9.95 a month for five hours of on-line time and $2.95 for each additional hour. Prodigy previously charged $14.95 a month for unlimited access to most of the network. By evening, America Online, which also charges $9.95 for a basic five-hour service, had said it would reduce its rate for additional hours from $3.50 to $2.95.