Excite@Home Brings Broadband Internet Services to Sony Customers
smartmoney.com
Excite@Home Brings Broadband Internet Services to Sony Customers
September 25, 2000 2:40 AM
Companies Extend Distribution Channel for High-Speed Internet Services
REDWOOD CITY, Calif., Sept. 25 /PRNewswire/ -- Excite@Home (Nasdaq: ATHM), the leader in broadband, today announced a distribution agreement with Sony Electronics Inc. to promote the @Home(SM) broadband Internet service. Through this agreement, Sony VAIO(R) personal computers (PCs) sold through retail channels, starting with the fall 2000 product launch, will be equipped with a pre-loaded demonstration of the @Home service, making Excite@Home the first cable broadband service provider on the Sony desktop. Through this relationship, @Home plans to extend its retail channel, make it easier for consumers to get the service, and demonstrate consumer acceptance and interest in broadband.
(Photo: newscom.com )
Sony VAIO PCs launching this fall will have a pre-loaded demonstration of the @Home service, which includes video footage, audio clips and a host of other features unique to the @Home broadband experience. Customers who have a dial-up connection will be able to click on a link within the demo that takes them to the @Home site, allowing them to check if their home is @Home-ready, learn about subscription program options and sign-up for preferred times for service installation by a cable technician.
"This agreement streamlines the set-up of the @Home service and simplifies the process of getting broadband to consumers. We think this relationship will undoubtedly help accelerate broadband awareness and usage," said Byron Smith, executive vice president of Consumer Broadband Services and chief marketing officer of Excite@Home.
All of Sony's new VAIO desktop PC models will come with a pre-installed network interface card for quick and easy installation of @Home's external cable modem and service. As part of the easy, end-to-end solution for consumers who want high-speed cable Internet service, when an order for the @Home service is placed with Sony, Excite@Home will work with Sony to process the order and bring the service to the user. Excite@Home will then work with its cable partners to get the @Home service installed in the user's home.
About Excite@Home
Excite@Home is the leader in broadband, offering residential and commercial broadband services, with a global footprint of 105(1) million homes under long-term cable and DSL contract. Excite@Home offers consumers broadband services over cable-modem, DSL and other "last-mile" connections and businesses high-speed commercial services. Excite@Home has over 30(1) million cable franchise homes under contract outside of North America and localized versions of the Excite service in 10 leading international markets.
(1) Effective upon the closing of Excite Chello.
NOTE: Excite@Home, @Home, Excite, and the stylized logo are trademarks of At Home Corporation and may be registered in certain jurisdictions. All other brand names are trademarks of their respective owners.
CONTACT: Vince Hancock of Excite@Home, 650-556-2115, or vinceh@excitehome.net
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