SBC is offering consumers a personal computer with built-in digital subscriber line services for $60 a month.

Customers must sign a two-year contract for the PC-DSL tandem service through Prodigy Communications Corp. in order to take advantage of the deal. Customers will receive a Presario computer from Compaq with a splitterless DSL modem pre-installed.

James Gallemore, SBC executive vice president of strategic marketing, said the deal's timing is perfect because consumers are demanding big bandwidth services now.

"Accessing the Internet is the primary reason many customers are purchasing and, or upgrading computers, and our promotion with Compaq provides a tremendous value that makes high-speed broadband service a viable and affordable option for customers," said Gallemore.

Including shipping and handling charges of $198, subscribers receive 24-months of DSL services plus a high-speed personal computer for about $1,637. Currently, SBC offers DSL services to subscribers for about $40 month.

The initiative is part of SBC's "Project Pronto," a $6 billion bid to convert the 100 million telephone customers it serves, into high-speed Internet users.

The PC-DSL deal will also be offered through SBC subsidiaries Pacific Bell and Southwestern Bell, with other regional phone companies to follow later this year.

Prodigy became SBC's Internet service delivery partner when it took a 43 percent equity stake in the national service provider late in May. By making Prodigy its exclusive Internet service provider, SBC gained national brand recognition for its family of Internet services.

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