End Users Cite High Satisfaction With DSL High-speed Internet Service
December 8, 1998
SAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE)
Speed, Reliability, and Value Listed as Key Benefits of
NorthPoint DSL(sm) in End-User Survey;
92% of Users Would Recommend DSL
Small and medium-sized businesses using DSL for their
high-speed Internet access are overwhelmingly
satisfied with the service, according to survey data
released today by NorthPoint Communications,
Inc.(sm), a competitive local exchange carrier (CLEC).
Conducted by independent IT market research firm
ConStat, Inc., NorthPoint's first end-user survey
catalogs the opinions of 100 randomly selected
NorthPoint DSL(sm) users. These end users consider
NorthPoint DSL a reliable, high-value solution that
simplifies Internet access, makes businesses more
productive, and provides a competitive advantage for
the long term. NorthPoint DSL is currently available in
seven cities across the country through the company's
Network Service Provider (NSP) channel partners.
"NorthPoint's target end user is a business customer
who sees the Internet as a vital competitive tool," said
John Stormer, vice president of marketing at
NorthPoint. "As the survey shows, NorthPoint's local
access network, which is optimized for data traffic,
gives these users an affordable high-performance
solution to maximize the potential of the Internet.
NorthPoint lets small and mid-sized businesses take
advantage of Internet applications previously available
only to the Fortune 1000, including Web hosting, VPNs,
e-commerce, Internet telephony, and remote
collaboration. The result for business subscribers is
higher visibility on the Web, increased efficiency, and
stronger market effectiveness."
All end users in the survey had been using NorthPoint
DSL between one and ten months. The majority were
long-time Internet users, half having Internet access
more than two years. 93% installed DSL in a work
location (business or home office) and use it for e-mail,
information searches, searching web sites and
transferring files. Nearly half (47%) host their own Web
sites.
"This survey is the first report card on DSL from
experienced, discriminating end users in the business
community," said Bill Deaton, principal at ConStat.
"They perceive DSL as a high-value access alternative
that solves their Internet problems, makes the Internet
more enjoyable, and helps them compete better in the
marketplace. The most telling hallmark of their
satisfaction is that 92% would recommend DSL service
to their peers."
Other findings include:
-- Main reasons for users' high level of satisfaction were
speed and reliability.
-- Nine out of ten users believe DSL is a "good value" (93%)
and the "benefits are well worth the cost" (91%).
-- Eight out of ten feel that DSL "solves Internet problems"
(84%), "makes them more productive" (84%), "makes the
Internet more enjoyable to use" (80%) and "is a long term
solution for their Internet needs" (80%).
-- Two thirds (63%) of all DSL users feel this technology will
"revolutionize the way we use the Internet."
Users installed DSL as an upgrade to existing access
such as analog dial-up (47%) and ISDN (45%). Five
percent used NorthPoint DSL to replace T1 or
Fractional T1 services.
On average, business respondents who purchased
NorthPoint DSL services for Internet access had more
than 30 employees, distributed over multiple offices.
Businesses surveyed covered a broad spectrum of
vertical industries, including business services,
computer hardware/software, finance/banking,
manufacturing, legal services, engineering, and
consulting.
About NorthPoint Communications, Inc.
NorthPoint Communications is a next-generation
telecommunications carrier focused on providing
optimized data networks to business end users through
wholesale agreements with service providers
nationwide. Founded by an experienced team of data
communications and telecommunications professionals,
NorthPoint's network and support systems are built to
the highest standards of performance, efficiency, and
reliability. The company offers a range of solutions for
business-to-business data connectivity.
Customers can order NorthPoint DSL services from
NSPs today in the San Francisco Bay Area (including
Silicon Valley), the greater Los Angeles area, Boston,
New York, Chicago, San Diego, and Washington, D.C.
By year's end, the service will also be available in
Dallas, Detroit and Houston. NorthPoint plans to expand
to 14 additional metropolitan markets by the third
quarter of 1999 and to continually extend coverage
within existing metropolitan service areas.
For more information about NorthPoint Communications'
data transport services, visit its World Wide Web site
at northpointcom.com, or contact the
company at (415) 403-4003.
NorthPoint Communications and NorthPoint DSL are
service marks of NorthPoint Communications, Inc. Other
trademarks, service marks, and trade names belong to
their respective owners.
CONTACT: Gallagher PR | Kristi Kilpatrick,
510/749-6800, x208 | kristi@gpr.com
[Copyright 1998, Business Wire]
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