Someone said that Tepco may have gotten cold feet about the Speednet deal because of NTT's actions. My anonymous source says, "....the deal was dead in the water when NTT lowered its ISDN fixed line high-speed internet connection fees to more reasonable rates. The original idea was to circumvent NTT, NTT realized this and lowered fees for internet connections "just enough" to thwart a new entry to the market, but maintain its margins as a monopoly business for connections home to curb. Primarily this was done in reaction to TEPCO and Softbank's offensive.
TEPCO is pretty stupid....Japanese Utility company....brain dead.
The reason that Softbank is down these days is Goldman & NSSB both downgraded it. (Lehman probably was awarded an IPO) retribution for being passed over in a primary deal."
I don't know if this relates to Speednet in any way or not:
Thursday, March 9, 2000
Sony, Toyota, Tokyu To Distribute Net Content Via Cable
TOKYO (Nikkei)--Three major Japanese firms will jointly start online distribution of video, music and game and business software via cable TV networks, industry sources said.
Sony Corp. (6758), Toyota Motor Corp. (7203) and Tokyu Corp. (9005) aim to develop online shopping and other e-commerce services through the broadband networks, which are expected to replace telephone lines, according to the sources.
The three companies will set up a firm in April to prepare for launching service in January 2001. The new firm will be capitalized at 150 million yen, divided equally among the three companies.
Sony will likely distribute content offered by group companies, including music software developed by Sony Music Entertainment (Japan) Inc. It will also distribute game software and sell home electronics products online.
Tokyu and Toyota will provide lines belonging to affiliated cable TV stations and cooperate in developing content.
The new firm will also seek the participation of other cable TV stations.
(The Nihon Keizai Shimbun Thursday evening edition
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