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Technology Stocks : COM21 (CMTO) -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Frank A. Coluccio who wrote (1697)	2/8/2000 9:46:00 AM
From: Francois Lavoie	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 2347

Frank, I'm a subscriber of Videotron cable modem service and I use a Motorola modem. But my other friend use a Samsung (??) modem. I'll give an update to the thread if I get a notice from them for a modem replacement. I saw the article in the journal Les Affaires. Cisco is building a VoIP network for Videotron and the full cost is assumed by Cisco. In return, Cisco gets a share of the profits generated by the new services handled by the network. This Cisco / Videotron deal should not affect the Com21 / Videotron deal, because Com21 signed after that. In fact, I suspect that with the interoperability of Com21 modems with Cisco headends (not sure about DOCSIS), Videotron saw an opportunity to broaden its supplier base. Videotron trades (traded) on the TSE with the symbol VDO quote.yahoo.com They recently got their CRTC (FCC Canadian equivalent) licence to jump in the telephony space. Here's the press release: Tuesday February 1, 12:17 pm Eastern Time Company Press Release Videotron Receives CLEC Status MONTREAL--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 1, 2000-- (TSE:VDO. - news) The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) yesterday gave Videotron (1998) ltee, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Videotron Communications inc., the status of competitive local exchange carrier (CLEC), which will allow the Company to offer local telephony services to its residential customers. In a letter dated December 3rd, 1999, the Company informed the CRTC that it complies with all the requirements for CLEC status and that it intends to pursue and extend its technological testing in preparation for the launch of residential telephony on Internet protocol (IP). The launch is expected to take place next summer. ``After examining our application, the CRTC has just confirmed that we had fully met the regulatory requirements that will enable us to offer our customers a high-quality competitive telephony service,' declared Guy-R. Beauchamp, President and Chief Operating Officer of Videotron Communications inc. As a matter of fact, the Company has successfully completed local interconnections with Bell in the Montreal region. This means that various functions related to emergency services (911), directory assistance (411), operator (0), and services for the hearing impaired (711), are now fully operational. Moreover, the regulation that governs the industry provides for number portability, meaning that customers who wish to change local service providers will be allowed to keep the same telephone number. Nearly one million homes could already have access to IP telephony in this region. But before launching this new service, Videotron first wants to complete the testing and preparation of its business procedures, for example its customer service and billing system. A subsidiary of Le Groupe Videotron ltee (TSE: VDO - news), Videotron Communications inc. (VCI) is an integrated communications company whose subsidiaries offer services in telecommunications, cable television, interactive multimedia development and Internet access. VCI is a leader of new technology, thanks to its Videoway interactive television system and to its high-bandwidth network allowing it to offer, among other services, high-speed Internet access and digital television. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Contact: Videotron Communications inc. Catherine Escojido, 514/985-8573 514/985-8425 (FAX) www.videotron.com