Newsflashes - June 25, 1998
Hughes Network Systems has rolled out version 2.0 of
its DirecPC satellite service. Perhaps the biggest
change is the pricing structure, which no longer makes
a distinction between daytime use and night time use.
The service now incorporates push technology for
news delivery, and provides easier installation and
billing.
56k.com
Hughes Network Systems Launches DirecPC 2.0
Copyright c 1998 TeleChoice, Inc.
June 24, 1998 -- DirecPC, the satellite Internet service from Hughes Network
Systems (HNS), formally introduces DirecPC 2.0. The features introduced in
DirecPC 2.0 include Internet push services such as Turbo Webcast and Turbo
Newscast.
Furthermore, DirecPC 2.0 integrates bundled ISP service for more convenient
customer set-up and billing, and adds a point-and-click electronic program guide.
Additionally, a new $100 rebate -- applied to the customer's credit card upon Turbo
Internet service commencement -- will bring the effective retail price for DirecPC
hardware down to $199.
DirecPC 2.0 enhancements include:
Bundled ISP service -- Before the introduction of DirecPC 2.0, subscribers to
the satellite Internet service needed an account with a separate Internet
service provider for the outbound portion of the request/receive process. Now,
customers will have a choice: either retain their current ISP and receive a
separate bill from DirecPC, or receive both their ISP and DirecPC services
from DirecPC, paying for both on one integrated bill. In addition, bundling the
ISP service allows customers to simultaneously configure their DirecPC and
ISP services with a click of a button in the user installation menu.
Turbo Webcast -- With Turbo Webcast, DirecPC subscribers will be able to
choose from a list of popular Internet sites and have those sites delivered
automatically to their hard drives by satellite. Because the information will be
delivered straight to their PC hard drive, access to those sites will be
instantaneous. Since the delivery process will employ the DirecPC satellite
dish, the phone line will remain free for household/business use during
information transfer.
Turbo Newscast -- Turbo Newscast allows DirecPC subscribers to choose
their favorites from more than 30,000 Usenet newsgroups and have the
contents of those newsgroups delivered automatically, by satellite, straight to
their PC hard drives. Once again, the user's phone line will not be used to
retrieve the selected newsgroups.
Electronic Program Guide (EPG) -- With DirecPC 2.0, users will employ EPG
to navigate through all the services and features available from DirecPC. The
new EPG is designed to enhance the value of the DirecPC user experience.
New DirecPC service pricing -- With the introduction of DirecPC 2.0,
DirecPC is implementing a completely new pricing strategy for the service.
Now, all users will have 24-hour, 7-day access to Turbo Internet at speeds up
to 400 kilobits per second, as well as unlimited access to all Turbo Webcast
and Turbo Newscast services. The three new plans -- Executive Surfer,
Family Surfer and Office Surfer -- feature the following characteristics:
Executive Surfer: 25 hours of Turbo Internet on-line time per month
$29.95/mo. including ISP, $19.95/mo. without ISP. Additional hours, $1.95/hr.
including ISP, $0.95/hr. without ISP.
Family Surfer: 100 hours of Turbo Internet on-line time per month $49.95/mo.
including ISP, $34.95/mo. without ISP. Additional hours, $1.95/hr. including
ISP, $0.95/hr. without ISP.
Office Surfer: 200 hours of Turbo Internet on-line time per month $129.95/mo.
including ISP, $109.95/mo. without ISP. Additional hours, $1.95/hr. including
ISP, $0.95/hr. without ISP. Office Surfer also includes a four-seat license for
LAN usage, with a $25/mo. surcharge for each additional LAN seat.
For additional information about DirecPC products and services, visit
direcpc.com .
o~~~ O |
