Ameritech and Compaq Partner to Make Computers Ready
for High-Speed Internet Access
PR Newswire - January 22, 1998 12:57
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Companies Will Make ADSL Internet Access Readily Available in New PCs
CHICAGO, Jan. 22 /PRNewswire/ -- Making it easier than ever for customers
to get high-speed Internet access, Ameritech (NYSE: AIT) today announced it is
partnering with Compaq Computer Corporation (NYSE: CPQ) to install the
equipment needed for ADSL-enabled Internet access into future Compaq Presario
personal computers.
Compaq will test the modems and network interface cards Ameritech is using
for Ameritech.net High Speed Internet Service. This means that later this
year customers will be able to purchase select Compaq Presario computers and
have them configured by some retailers in parts of Michigan to run
Ameritech.net High Speed Internet Service. The Compaq Presario computers are
expected to be available by spring of 98.
Ameritech last month announced it is offering ADSL-enabled Internet
service in Ann Arbor, Mich., and will be deploying the service in several
other Midwestern cities in the coming months. Ameritech.net High Speed
Internet Service uses Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line (ADSL) technology to
enable customers to connect to the Internet at speeds up to 50 times faster
than a standard telephone line and modem. ADSL is a modem technology that
enhances the existing copper wiring serving virtually all homes and
businesses.
Certification up front
"Ameritech is committed to making high-speed Internet access more widely
available," said Tim Waters, vice president of data product management. "By
working with Compaq, our customers will have access not only to high-speed
Internet access, but to computers from the No. 1 PC manufacturer that will
readily accommodate their need for speed."
By assuring that the ADSL equipment used by Ameritech will work with its
computers, Compaq demonstrates its commitment to seamless high-speed Internet
access for consumers and small businesses.
"Compaq is a leader in the personal computing industry and is committed to
taking a leadership role, along with Ameritech, in making high-speed Internet
access easy for our customers to get and use," said Michael Rubin, director of
product marketing for Compaq's Presario line of PCs. "This alliance
represents a tremendous opportunity for all of us. As the leader in the PC
industry, we understand the need to provide the customer with the ability to
communicate via the computer at speeds not normally reserved for the home
user. This alliance is based not only on a sharing of technology, but a
mutual vision of greater things to come."
Ameritech.net High-Speed Internet Access enables users to download
materials from the Internet at speeds of up to 1.5 megabits per second and
send materials at speeds up to 128 kilobits per second. That means using
ADSL, a customer could download the entire Encyclopedia Britannica in 31
minutes. Using a standard 28.8 modem, downloading the same information would
take 27 hours.
"It has always been Compaq's belief that technology is only truly useful
when it provides a better experience for the consumer. This technology will
enhance our customers' ability to utilize the Internet as both an information
and entertainment medium and increase its effectiveness for communications,"
said Rubin.
"By working with Compaq, Ameritech.net High Speed Internet Access
customers are ensured quality service from both their computer vendor and
service provider," said Waters. "Ameritech will continue to work with Compaq
so our services are compatible with all of Compaq's quality line of PCs."
The agreement with Compaq follows an agreement announced last month with
Microsoft under which Ameritech will package future Ameritech.net High Speed
Internet Service with software from Microsoft to ensure that a user's MS
Windows operating system is ready to connect to the Internet using ADSL.
To use Ameritech.net High Speed Access Service, customers need to have a
personal computer with Pentium processor, the Windows 95 operating system,
CD-ROM, 16 MB random access memory, and 32 MB hard drive capacity.
Ameritech.net is available with Microsoft Internet Explorer for using the
World Wide Web, e-mail and newsgroups; personalized web pages; CyberPatrol
(parental control software); and chat software for joining on-line
discussions.
Compaq Computer Corporation, a Fortune 100 company, is the fifth largest
computer company in the world and the largest global supplier of personal
computers, delivering useful innovation through products that connect people
with people and people with information. The company is an industry leader in
current and future needs of its customers, offering Internet and enterprise
computing solutions, networking products, commercial PC products and consumer
PCs. As the leader in distributed enterprise solutions, Compaq has shipped
over a million servers. In 1997, the company reported worldwide sales of
$24.6 billion. Compaq products are sold and supported in more than 100
countries through a network of authorized Compaq marketing partners. Customer
support and information about Compaq and its products can be found at
compaq.com or by calling 800-OK-COMPAQ. Product information and
reseller locations can be obtained by calling 800-345-1518.
Ameritech serves millions of customers in 50 states and 40 countries.
Ameritech provides a full range of communications services, including local
and long distance telephone, cellular, paging, security monitoring, cable TV,
Internet services and more. One of the world's 100 largest companies,
Ameritech (www.ameritech.com) has 74,000 employees, 1 million shareowners and
more than $25 billion in assets.
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