Colin, I stand behind what I said, but it is apparent you only read and put emphasis on what serves you best, so read the following press release, which explains the backbone on which FNET is based. I don’t think it leaves much to the imagination as to what their intended target market is. Unless of course your household needs include Frame Relay or RF Wireless services.
As I stated in my previous post, an account for an individual is offered, after all their market analysis would prove that 42 million households would be foolish to overlook. But, my reply was in answer to what separates FNET from the rest of the ISP’s. The answer is accurately stated, in that the targeted corporate market, and the revenues generated from FNET’s business related type services, are the key element in what separates them from the crowd of ISP’s that target the casual web surfer.
It is difficult to understand how in your research of FTEL/FNET that you did not read the following descriptive article and it’s clearly stated content. Especially since it is the same article that Joe Murphy so opportunistically seized, and ran a (prior) press release for his own benefit, at the expense of FTEL shareholders.
NEWS
OTCBB FTEL
For Immediate Release
August 5, 1996
FRANKLIN INTERNET (FNet) GOES NATIONAL
Westlake Village, CA.> Franklin Telecom announced today that it has reached an agreement with
GridNet International, based in Atlanta, Georgia, which will allow Franklin Internet (FNet) to have
full use of GridNet's Internet presence throughout the country. GridNet, a business unit of
WorldCom, Inc. offers Dial-up, Frame Relay and ATM service in more than 150 major American
cities with many additional cities to be added this month.
According to Franklin's President and C.E.O. Frank Peters, "The use of GridNet's nationwide Internet presence will allow Franklin to take the integration of our channel bank technology and voice applications nationwide. Franklin has been very active in providing communications solutions for customers who require advanced applications. We believe our latest product development will be widely accepted in this market. This new National Product offering (F-Link) will reduce the cost for many corporations for international Internet Phone (available in the Fall.) We intend to provide solutions that will dramatically reduce the cost of Corporate Communication for Dial-up, Frame Relay and ATM connections."
Peters went on to say, "This partnership is one part of our overall plan to make FNet one of the most profitable Internet - Advanced Solution Providers in the world. The system will go online for
testing this week and our target for nationwide availability is August 15, 1996. Charges for a typical user with a 28.8 modem will be $16.95 per month for 15 free hours and $1.95 per hour thereafter for that month. Our research shows most users use about 15 to 17 hours per month."
According to O.G. Greene, President & C.E.O. for GridNet, "We are extremely excited about the future relationship with Franklin Telecom and FNet. Franklin is positioned to offer unique, innovative and comprehensive solutions by utilizing GridNet's extensive access network, coupled with a high quality, fully meshed ATM network for connection to the Internet and Intranet."
Greene went on to say, "The broad geographic coverage and capacity of The Grid (GridNet's Network), will allow Franklin to deploy its services nationwide very quickly. GridNet is not burdened with legacy systems. We have efficiently deployed the latest technologies in a way no other carrier has done before."
GridNet has deployed a nationwide switched access, value added network using IP, X.25 and other protocols at speeds up to and including 28.8 Kbps. The dial-up services utilized by Franklin are carried on an IP backbone accessible by an end-user's dialing either a local or toll-free number. Calls are then routed to a GridNet point of presence and are terminated in an adaptive access device which includes a digital modem/channel bank and either contains or is connected to a
terminal server. The terminal server sets up the IP session and the call is then routed to WorldCom, Inc.'s fully meshed and multi-homed asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) network for forwarding directly to the Internet or to Franklin's hosts, depending upon the service.
Additionally, GridNet maintains Unsurpassed, First Tier Internet connections via WorldCom's ATM backbone. The Grid dedicated Internet services utilized by Franklin will offer Frame Relay connections with speeds ranging from 64 Kbps to 1.536 Mbps. The unique architecture of The Grid allows Franklin's customers to be literally "one hop" away from multiple Internet Exchange Points.
FNet's objective is to be one of the leading worldwide suppliers of complete communications solutions to businesses, professionals and individuals, utilizing Internet-related technologies. FNet intends to develop this business offering a rich suite of Added Value applications such as Voice Messaging, FAX Broadcast and many others.
FNet is a provider of a comprehensive range of Internet access options, applications and consulting services to businesses, professionals and on-line service providers. FNet provides dedicated high speed and low cost dial-up Internet access and other applications and services which include Web server hosting. Voice telephone calls, voice messaging, FAX and FAX Broadcast over the Internet free of long-distance charges will also be included in the near future.
Franklin Telecom is the parent corporation, a designer and manufacturer of channel banks and other high speed communications equipment including X.25 and frame relay products which FNet uses.
GridNet is a high speed native dial service, providing remote users a convenient link to corporate enterprise networks, as well as to the nearly 80,000 networks that comprise the global Internet.
Tailored to meet the needs of our customers, we offer high-speed dial connection and sophisticated security mechanisms. Using a local or toll-free 800 number, we provide users through-out the United States convenient, easy access to IP network services such as high-speed dial access up to and including 28.8 Kbps (V.34), Frame Relay, ATM, local or 800 number availability and sophisticated security mechanisms.
GridNet is a limited liability corporation majority owned by WorldCom, Inc. WorldCom, Inc. is one of the largest long distance telecommunications companies in the United States, offering domestic
and international, voice, data and video products and services to business customer, other carriers and the residential market. The company operates a nationwide digital fiber optic network in the
United States and has worldwide network capacity. The common shares of WorldCom, Inc. traded over the counter Market as "WCOM"
More information can be obtained by contacting Helen West, Shareholder Relations at 805-373-8688, 800-372-6556, by fax at 805-373-7373,
Internet: hq@ftel.com, or on the WEB ftel.com or by writing to Franklin at 733 Lakefield Road, Westlake Village, CA. 91361. Franklin Telecom, founded in 1981, designs and manufactures communications devices, high speed LAN & WAN access cards and software. Franklin has an installed base of over 100,000 nodes. Franklin is traded Over The Counter Market as "FTEL".
Also under Pricing and Services on the FTEL web site is the following services of which 3 out of nine mention personal, the other six are business related. Again emphasis is clearly on business.
Personal PPP 28.8 Kbps
Personal ISDN/1 64 Kbps
Personal ISDN/2 128 Kbps
Business ISDN/8 64 Kbps
Business ISDN/16 128 Kbps
Business ISDN/32 128 Kbps
Frame Relay/56
Frame Relay/128 128 Kbps
Frame Relay/256 256 Kbps
Frame Relay/384 384 Kbps
Frame Relay/T1 1.5 Mbps
RF Wireless ~1.5 Mbps
Feel free to stop by anytime, always glad to oblige you with factual information.
Raleigh |
