In fact, the shakeout is under way: RCN, Verio and SBC are becoming national players by acquiring smaller companies such as Erol's in the mid-Atlantic, Hiway in Florida and PacBell Internet in California.
Since I'm in PacBell territory and know SBC bought them a year or so ago, I'm wondering if they acquired the Internet arm at the same time. Since then, SBC's request to merge with Ameritech has been okayed, so that creates all sorts of possibilities.
sbc.com
Digital information via wireless, anyone???
swbell.com
I used to follow PacBell's ADSL developments on an almost daily basis. Called FasTrak, they're now listed on SBC's website:
sbc.com
The offerings include PacBell Internet service:
"Home Pack DSL" includes the ADSL connection and Internet service, and is designed for high-volume home Internet users. "Home Pack" provides transport speeds starting at 384 kilobits per second (Kbps) downstream and 128 Kbps upstream. Total monthly price for home Internet access package starts at $89, including $59 ADSL connection and $30 dedicated Internet service from Pacific Bell Internet Services. . . .
"Commercial deployment of ADSL is but one component of our unfolding data strategy. Over the next few months, we intend to introduce a full range of data transport and networking services that meet the complex demands of businesses and consumers," said Ed Mueller, president and CEO of Pacific Bell.
pacbell.com
Ameritech and SBC:
ameritech.com
Whoa, this ISP trail began in sleepy Podunk and ends up in 5 o'clock traffic in the heart of Paris. I had no idea the merger had such far-reaching implications.
ameritech.com
The ability to capture global opportunities is at the heart of the SBC-Ameritech merger, said Edward E. Whitacre, Jr., chairman and chief executive officer of SBC. "Foreign telecommunications carriers are looking for opportunities to take over all or a portion of American carriers in order to gain a toe-hold in the U.S. market. As these foreign carriers move to expand into the United States, public policy in this country should encourage the development of strong U.S.-based global competitors."
"This merger is significant because it will give the combined company the economic scale, scope and resources to accelerate growth on a national and global basis," added Notebaert. "The new SBC will jointly tackle the inherently high investments in the telecommunications business, share the best practices of talented management teams and combine substantial technological and employee resources. Ameritech will become a more effective competitor, better able to innovate and deliver new and improved services that our customers expect, and this merger will better position us to expand and build on Ameritech's proud tradition. The net result will be greater benefits for Ameritech's customers, employees, communities and investors."
Now, where were we????
Slow day, indeed ---
Pat |
