EarthLink DSL Rolls Out to Southern California Consumers
Leading ISP Will Launch Market Trials in Los Angeles Area
LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 13, 1999--EarthLink (Nasdaq:ELNK - news) dropped the green flag on speedy DSL (digital subscriber line) service today, officially announcing its upcoming Southern California market trials.
A limited introduction of the high-speed Internet service will take place in early May, and full commercial rollout is slated for this summer.
Though EarthLink has been testing DSL since early this year, the announcement marks the company's official entry into the DSL market. The commercial service will take aim squarely at the consumer market, with a simple $49.95 monthly package that allows home Internet users to get speeds up to a full T1 (1.5 MB).
''One of the questions frequently asked by our members is when they'll be able to access the Internet at faster speeds,'' said Dr. Richard Edmiston, senior vice president of research and development at EarthLink.
''With EarthLink DSL, we're beginning to satisfy the demand for high-speed Internet connections. And, unlike a lot of other DSL offerings, EarthLink's allows people to use our extensive base of national and international dial-up numbers while traveling, so it's a complete access package.''
Initially offered to EarthLink members in Pacific Bell's service area, EarthLink DSL will provide members with a connection that's up to 50 times faster than a normal 28.8K analog modem. Since DSL is a dedicated connection, it allows users to avoid the complicated process of dialing in to a point of presence (POP).
It's ''instant-on,'' so all EarthLink members need do is log in and start surfing. And not only can EarthLink DSL members use the Internet faster, they can also talk on the phone or send a fax at the same time with the same phone line.
The market trial will gather about two months' worth of data from upwards of 500 people. This information will be used to fine tune the service in preparation for a full-scale launch this summer. DSL requires only minor modification to current home phone wiring and uses existing copper lines.
When launched commercially, the service will be offered as a single, flat-rate package and download speeds -- between 384 KB and 1.5 MB -- will depend on members' distance from a Pacific Bell central office. The service will also provide all the benefits of EarthLink membership, including roaming access to more than 2,100 dial-up POPs nationwide and award-winning 24-hour-a-day customer service.
''EarthLink DSL provides a good complement to the cable-based services we've been offering and gives us a considerable broadband footprint,'' said Bob Granadino, director of high speed access at EarthLink. ''We want to give our members as many connection options as possible, so as other high-speed services come along, we'll offer them too.''
For more information about EarthLink DSL or other high-speed services, call 800/395-8425 or visit earthlink.net. For more information about EarthLink's other award-winning Internet access, Web hosting and e-commerce services, call 800/395-8425 or visit www.earthlink.net.
About EarthLink
''It's your Internet.''
EarthLink is one of the world's leading Internet service providers. Through its unified EarthLink Sprint Internet access service, the company makes the Internet relevant and productive to more than a million individuals and businesses every day.
With headquarters in Pasadena, EarthLink provides a full range of innovative access and hosting solutions to thousands of communities internationally from more than 2,100 POPs. EarthLink and Sprint Corp. (NYSE:FON - news) have formed a broad business relationship to create an Internet service with the potential to reach millions of new customers.
Sprint is a global communications company and one of the world's largest carriers of Internet traffic. Information about EarthLink and EarthLink Sprint services is available by calling 800/395-8425 and through EarthLink's Web site at www.earthlink.net. |
