THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, April 11, 1996 TAG: 9604110307
SECTION: BUSINESS PAGE: D1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: STAFF AND WIRE REPORT
LENGTH: Medium: 78 lines
Residential customers will get Internet access for $17.95 to $19.95 a month for unlimited access, or $4.95 to $6.95 for up to five hours per month. The company said it will have a 24-hour ``help desk'' to provide customers with technical support.
The Bell Atlantic announcement came as no surprise to smaller independent Internet access providers. Michael Ryan, president of Virginia Beach-based Pinnacle Online Inc., said he thinks the phone company's entry into the business will help expand the overall market.
``They'll bring so many marketing dollars to the market that more people will start getting interested in the Internet and some of them will shop around and come to people like us,'' Ryan said.
AT&T and MCI have said they would offer customers five free hours of Internet access each month. On March 19, Nynex joined the crowd, saying it would provide Internet service to residents and businesses by year's end.
Cable TV providers are preparing to offer even-speedier Internet access services within a few years.Residential and business customers in Hampton Roads will be offered the service in November. Residential customers will get Internet access for $17.95 to $19.95 a month for unlimited access, or $4.95 to $6.95 for up to five hours per month. The company said it will have a 24-hour ``help desk'' to provide customers with technical support.
Bell Atlantic Corp. jumped on the Internet bandwagon Wednesday, saying it will begin offering some of its customers access to the global computer network next month.
The Philadelphia-based Baby Bell said it will make the new service available to business customers in the Washington area first.
The service will be phased in for other customer groups and metropolitan areas throughout the year. The company said business and residential customers in Hampton Roads will be offered the service in November.
Bell Atlantic signed a licensing agreement with Netscape Communications Corp. for Internet browsing software. It also said it plans to offer a version of Microsoft Corp.'s on-line service, Microsoft Network.
Bell Atlantic joins AT&T Corp., MCI Communications Corp. and Nynex Corp. in unveiling an Internet strategy. Phone companies are able to boost calling on their networks by offering Internet access and wrapping it into the overall package of services for customers.
``Bell Atlantic will provide a full suite of Internet offerings,'' said Stuart Johnson, Bell Atlantic group president for large business and information services.
Giving customers services ranging from local calling to paging and Internet services is crucial for phone companies as they expand into new markets.
The telecommunications law signed by President Clinton Feb. 8 heightens the competition among local and long-distance companies. It also forces them to offer and market more value-added services.
In a telephone news conference, Bell Atlantic executives said the company will bill customers by way of credit card or direct billing. Internet access fees could be wrapped into the monthly phone bills at a later date.
Residential customers will get Internet access for $17.95 to $19.95 a month for unlimited access, or $4.95 to $6.95 for up to five hours per month. The company said it will have a 24-hour ``help desk'' to provide customers with technical support.
The Bell Atlantic announcement came as no surprise to smaller independent Internet access providers. Michael Ryan, president of Virginia Beach-based Pinnacle Online Inc., said he thinks the phone company's entry into the business will help expand the overall market.
``They'll bring so many marketing dollars to the market that more people will start getting interested in the Internet and some of them will shop around and come to people like us,'' Ryan said.
AT&T and MCI have said they would offer customers five free hours of Internet access each month. On March 19, Nynex joined the crowd, saying it would provide Internet service to residents and businesses by year's end.
Cable TV providers are preparing to offer even-speedier Internet access services within a few years. MEMO: Bloomberg Business News and staff writer Dave Mayfield contributed to
this report. by CNB