AT&T WORLDNET SERVICE BEGINS ROLL-OUT
OF 56K TECHNOLOGY
BRIDGEWATER, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov. 5, 1997--
3Com Offering $50 Rebate For Service's Subscribers
AT&T WorldNet(R) Service has begun to deploy
56-kilobit-per-second (56K) access technology in its network, and
currently plans to make the high-speed access available to all its
subscribers by June 1998.
"Our customers are telling us that high-speed access is important to
them," said Dan Schulman, vice president of AT&T WorldNet
Service. "As the Internet becomes increasingly important to our
customers, it's only natural that they should want to retrieve
information more quickly."
Users want 56K technology and speedier retrieval because email
messages and files attached to them are growing in length, the
graphical content of Web pages is becoming richer and more
information-intensive, and software such as browsers, which can be
downloaded from sites on the Web, is increasing in size.
AT&T WorldNet Service subscribers in 11 cities now can reach
local 56K access numbers with modems using x2 technology, and
plans call for 15 more cities to be equipped with the high-speed
capability by the end of November. Additionally, an 888 number
equipped with x2 technology is available to subscribers nationwide.
It carries the same 10-cent-per-minute charge associated with the
nationwide 800-number for 28.8Kbps access to AT&T WorldNet
Service.
There is no additional charge for accessing AT&T WorldNet Service
using 56K technology.
The first 27 AT&T WorldNet Service high-speed access points are
being outfitted with x2 modems from 3Com Corp., the leading
provider of 56K modems using x2 technology. In addition, 3Com is
offering a $50 mail-in rebate to AT&T WorldNet Service
subscribers who purchase selected x2 modems from 3Com Corp.
for their personal computers before Jan. 17, 1998. Both the Internet
service provider and the user's PC must employ x2 modems for a
user to realize the full benefits of this technology.
AT&T WorldNet Service plans to widely deploy x2 technology in its
network by June 1998.
Because there is presently no common standard for 56K technology,
AT&T WorldNet Service also plans to support modems with
K56flex(TM) technology in the near future. Users may check the
AT&T WorldNet Service Website (www.att.net) for local
availability of 56K technology.
Schulman noted: "Our customers are frustrated by the lack of a
common standard and the need to choose between two incompatible
technologies -- x2 and K56flex. We wholeheartedly concur that
everyone would be best served by the rapid implementation of a
common standard, and we are working with modem manufacturers
to help make that happen. Until it does, we'll distribute modems with
both technologies, although we will not have complete coverage for
both technologies."
Schulman explained that AT&T WorldNet Service will support the
common standard, which will be designated V.PCM, when it is
adopted, enabling subscribers to use x2 and K56flex technologies
interchangeably.
3Com Corp. has committed to providing its existing x2 modem
customers with a free upgrade that will enable them to convert the
modems to the common standard.
The 11 cities where AT&T WorldNet Service customers with x2
modems now can take advantage of 56K technology locally are New
York City, Houston, Tex.; San Francisco, Ca.; San Diego, Ca.;
Milwaukee, Wis.; Norfolk, Va.; Charlotte, N.C.; Cincinnati, Oh.;
Tampa, Fla.; Plainview, N.Y., and New Brunswick, N.J.
By the end of November, AT&T WorldNet Service plans to offer
customers in the following cities local access to 56K technology: Los
Angeles, Ca.; Haywood, Ca.; Sacramento, Ca.; Sherman Oaks, Ca.;
Santa Ana, Ca.; Concord, Ca.; Camp Pendleton, Ca.; Arlington,
Va.; Detroit, Mich.; Kalamazoo, Mich.; Miami, Fla.; Clearwater,
Fla.; Philadelphia, Pa.; Bangor, Me., and Anchorage, Alaska.
Due to FCC rules that restrict power output of service providers'
modems, current download speeds are limited to 53 Kbps, and
actual speeds may vary depending on line conditions. Uploads from
end users to service providers travel at speeds up to 28.8 Kbps.
3Com Corporation enables individuals and organizations worldwide
to communicate and share information and resources at anytime
from anywhere. As one of the world's preeminent suppliers of data,
voice and video communications technology, 3Com has delivered
networking solutions to more than 100 million customers worldwide.
3Com has worldwide revenues of more than $6 billion and employs
approximately 13,200 people in 45 countries.
AT&T WorldNet Service is the largest direct Internet service
provider in the U.S., serving nearly one million subscribers. It has
designed a unique service that enables customers to get to and use
material from leading content providers in a way best suited to each
individual's needs. AT&T WorldNet Service was selected as the top
Internet service provider by Smart Money (5/97) magazine and
PCWorld (7/97), with both publications citing its outstanding
reliability.
AT&T WorldNet Service software for Windows 95, Windows 3.1,
Windows 3.11 for Workgroups and Macintosh is available by
download free of charge from the public AT&T WorldNet Web site
(http://www.att.net) and from the AT&T Corporate Web site
(http://www.att.com) or by calling 1-800-WORLDNET.
AT&T WorldNet is a registered service mark of AT&T 3Com is a
registered service mark, and x2 is a trademark of 3Com Corporation
or its subsidiaries. K56flex is a trademark of Lucent Technologies
(See also: businesswire.com)
o~~~ O |
