|
Faster Web access planned
|
 |
January 20, 1998: 8:18 a.m. ET
Compaq, Intel, Microsoft and Bells team up to speed up Internet data
|
NEW YORK (CNNfn) - Three of the biggest names in computers are expected to announce a deal with many of the nation's phone companies to speed up Internet access.
Compaq Computer Corp. (CPQ), Intel Corp. (INTC) and Microsoft Corp. {MSFT] will introduce the strategy next week at a conference in Washington, the New York Times reported Tuesday.
The three companies will enter into a venture with GTE Corp. and four Baby Bell phone companies to set the technical standards for future access to the Internet. Those standards, they hope, will accelerate the speed at which World Wide Web users can receive data.
The group also hopes to create new modems and software by next Christmas that will allow customers to receive Web pages up to 30 times faster than current modems.
The companies envision a modem that will plug into normal telephone lines and be connected to the Internet at all times without the need to dial up a service. Under such a plan, customers still could make regular voice phone calls while connected.
It is believed that the new process will give ordinary customers fast access that currently is available only to users with cable modems. It also will open the way for improvements in video transmission over the Internet.
The technology is known as digital subscriber line (DLS), and while it has existed in theory for years, it has been hampered by disagreement about the main technical standards.
Internet users already have several options for faster service, including cable modems and ISDN lines. However, cable modems are available in only 10 percent of the United States and ISDN lines are expensive and require installation.
The four Baby Bells to sign on to the plan are Bell Atlantic Corp. (BEL), BellSouth Corp. (BLS), SBC Communications (SBC), and US West Communications Group (USW).
Of them, US West already offers a limited DSL service in the Phoenix area, which involves a $200 installation fee and a monthly fee of $40.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Intel
Microsoft
Compaq
|
Note: Pages will open in a new browser window
External sites are not endorsed by CNNmoney
|
|
|
|
 |
|
