Jim Wagner

Until recently, the world’s second-largest Internet service provider hadn’t given much thought to the instant messaging (IM) craze in the United States. To make up for lost time, Europe’s T-Online purchased a license for more than $1 million from MessageVine, an IM outfit headquartered in New York. With the license, the company is now rolling […]

PSINet officials, with their desultory announcement Monday of $3.2 billion in net losses for the fourth quarter 2000, said they were mulling a decision to file for bankruptcy to appease creditors. What’s more, one of its equipment lenders is calling for the former Internet industry giant to pay, at least in part by April 20, […]

The U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of California Tuesday cleared the way for Covad Communications to buy up the digital subscriber line customers from one of its defunct Internet service providers. For an undisclosed amount of cash and debt forgiveness, Covad bought the rights to snare Zyan Communication’s 11,000 broadband subscribers in the Covad […]

Officials at fixed wireless provider Winstar Communications, Inc., announced Monday night they couldn’t meet the aggregate interest payment on $75 million in senior debt securities due at the close of business. The company also missed several extensions granted over the past week-and-a-half by Lucent Technologies to make payments, according to Mary Lou Ambrus, a spokesperson […]

AOL Time Warner’s America Online Inc. Monday launched an enhanced version of its wireless portal in an attempt to woo the more than 109 million wireless phone users in the U.S. Internet-ready Web phones, popular in Japan and Europe, have been slow to take off in the States, with only about 600,000 consumer users, according […]

The Federal Communications Commission is getting set to drop the prices on reciprocal compensation for carriers, and could have a ruling that favors Baby Bells out as early as the next few days. It’s hoped, but not expected, that the decision will put an end to the debate between telephone companies and competitive local exchange […]

Michael Lee, brought in Monday to turn failing CAIS Internet, Inc., into a money-maker, has announced Thursday afternoon a complete change in its business plan. The announcement was made at its conference call reporting the financial results for 2000. Looking to cut the dead weight residential and hospitality services are having on its financials, the […]

In what could be a sign of wonderful times to come, MobileStar Network Corp. this week signed IBM Corp. to deploy its nationwide Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN). It’s news that should be a welcome relief to travelers who have had to deal with the hassle of lugging around a telephone cord and finding a […]

The Microsoft Network (MSN) this week clawed its way to number two in the highly competitive ranks of U.S. ISPs. Previous numbers had MSN ranked in the fifth place spot behind EarthLink, NetZero and Juno Online. MSN attributed it’s success to big-name partners and the brand awareness only good marketing can bring. It’s a sign […]

Two of the largest high-tech equipment makers are launching virtual private networking products to bring a little more security to the Internet. Lucent Technologies Inc., teamed with GRIC Communications Inc., to provide the world’s first secure Internet roaming VPN service. The product promises robust security for mobile workers who need access to their company’s enterprise […]

Hoping to snare new subscribers, NetZero, Inc., signed a deal Monday that puts its free and premium services on the face of upcoming Compaq Computer Corp. PCs. It’s the second such deal for the third-largest Internet service provider in the nation, after a signed agreement Thursday with PC giant IBM. NetZero officials declined to comment […]

BALTIMORE — Industry leaders spoke about the future of Internet access to a packed crowd of Internet service providers attending an informal debate at ISPCON Thursday morning. The three-man panel of Charles Ardai, Juno Online Services, Inc., president, chief executive officer and director; John Kane, Telseon chief executive officer; and Michael Mael, president of Focal […]