SBC Communications Inc. Monday teamed up
with Compaq Computer Corp. to make its
family of high-speed Internet services irresistible to bandwidth hungry
consumers.
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.
