Anyone know if this is Westell's modem? Or is it Alcatel from JPC?
Ameritech and Compaq Partner to Make Computers Ready
for High-Speed Internet Access
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 - news) today announced it is partnering with Compaq
Computer Corporation (NYSE: CPQ - news) 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.
SOURCE: Ameritech |
