Broadbandinfo: Broadband News and Technology

Verizon Offers Fast DSL-Based Internet Service in New York Verizon is now offering a new broadband option to nearly one million of its customers throughout New York as the company expands availability of its ultra-fast High Speed Internet service. The service more than doubles the download speed of Verizon's fastest current DSL subscriber line service and provides an alternative to cable Internet. The new Verizon high speed Internet service offers a downstream connection speed of up to 7 Mbps. Pricing for the service can be as low as $39.99 per month if customers order it as part of an annual plan. In addition to its New York customers, Verizon is also offering the new service to three million households and small businesses across the U.S. Verizon High Speed Internet a Fast Solution for Customers According to Michelle Swittenberg, Verizon?s vice president of marketing and sales for New York, "Verizon 7 Megabit High Speed Internet is the way to go for qualifying residents in New York who are looking for a better alternative to higher-priced cable Internet. Our super-fast high speed Internet, backed by DSL technology, provides all the speed you need for everything you do online -- and at a reasonable cost. From digital music and streaming video to photo sharing and online gaming, to video conferencing and working from home -- it's faster, easier and more affordable with Verizon high speed Internet." About Verizon High Speed Internet Verizon high speed Internet service is delivered on a dedicated line from Verizon's central office to the customer's home. Subscribers will have access to such features as online security, email with storage up to four gigabytes, premium technical support, online gaming, Disney Connection, free news from ABC News Now, and free sports from ESPN360.

Cablevision Plans Wireless Broadband Network in New York Cablevision Systems Corp. recently announced plans to offer high-speed wireless Internet service across its New York coverage area including Long Island. Cablevision CEO Tom Rutledge said the new offering was planned in order to meet the demands of the company?s existing customers who currently subscribe to Cablevision?s high-speed Internet service. New Service Will Offer Mobile Online Access Rutledge says the new wireless broadband service, which will be developed over the next two years, will provide Cablevision's existing Internet customers online access through mobile devices such as Apple's iPhone, BlackBerry smartphones, and laptop computers. The company estimates that it will cost $100 per customer to create the service which will be built on Cablevision?s existing infrastructure. Cablevision currently has approximately 3.1 million cable customers in the New York region. WiFi Technology Will Drive Cablevision Network Cablevision's network design will use the type of WiFi technology which is currently used for wireless routers in homes. Rutledge said the service would be free to existing customers and be available on a fee basis to non-subscribers. He also pointed out that the Cablevision will eventually be capable of offering phone service through the wireless broadband network. Other Cablevision Expansions Cablevision also recently announced its purchase of Robert Redford's Sundance Channel for a price of $496 million. The network will continue to offer its own programming channels including AMC, IFC, and WE TV. Cablevision is also bidding $650 million to acquire Newsday, a major newspaper based on Long Island. Following the announcement, Cablevision shares rose 36 cents or 1.5 percent to $24.11, remaining close to the low end of their 52-week range of $20.68 to $39.75.

Vonage to Offer DSL Services through Covad Vonage and Covad Communications Company, a leading national provider of integrated voice and data communications, have announced a strategic relationship which will enable Vonage to provide its customers with a broadband solution using Covad's nationwide DSL network. The companies plan to offer the new service to new and existing customers, called Vonage Broadband, by the end of the year. The service will feature maximum download speeds of 3.0 or 6.0 Mbps to both residential and small business customers. Partnership with Covad to Give Vonage Customers More Choice "Consistent with our strategy of focusing on the customer, Vonage Broadband enables us to respond to the demand we hear from customers who prefer the Vonage brand," said Jeffrey Citron, Vonage chairman and interim CEO. "In addition, it provides us with a competitive offering that continues to give customers the freedom of choice." Says Covad president and CEO Patrick Bennett, ?We look forward to partnering with Vonage as its broadband wholesale service provider. This new strategic relationship enables us to demonstrate the reliability and award-winning performance of our nationwide broadband network to Vonage's large and savvy customer base." Covad Provides Integrated Voice and Data Communications Services Covad is a leading nationwide provider of integrated voice and data communications offering DSL, Voice Over IP, T1, broadband wireless, Web hosting, managed security, IP and dial-up, and bundled voice and data services through Covad's network and ISPs, resellers, and telecommunications carriers to small and medium-sized businesses as well as home users. Covad broadband and voice over Internet protocol (VoIP) services are currently available in 44 states and 235 major markets and can be accessed by more than 57 million homes and businesses.

Tech Companies Team Up on WiMAX Sprint Nextel and Clearwire Corporation are teaming up with strategic investors Intel, Google, Comcast, Time Warner Cable, and Bright House Networks to create a tech company which will offer the first nationwide mobile WiMAX network. The new company, called Clearwire, is expected to dramatically enhance the speed and methods by which customers access the Internet. $3.2 Billion Investment in WiMAX Planned The tech companies have agreed to invest $3.2 billion in the new company. Upon completion of the proposed transaction, Sprint will own the largest stake in the new company with approximately 51 percent equity ownership. Clearwire shareholders will own approximately 27 percent, and the new strategic investors, as a group, will acquire approximately 22 percent. Mobile Wireless Internet Services Will Be Available on Many Devises Clearwire expects to offer mobile wireless Internet services on an array of new devices that will be made possible by integrated WiMAX chipsets, scalable operating expenses, and a commitment to an open architecture. Mobile WiMAX is a standards-based wireless broadband technology designed to operate multiple times faster than today's 3G wireless networks. With embedded WiMAX chipsets in laptops, phones, PDAs, mobile Internet devices, and consumer electronic equipment, mobile WiMAX technology is expected to allow users to wirelessly access a range of multimedia applications, such as live videoconferencing, recorded video, games, and large data files -- anywhere in the network coverage area. Statement from Sprint CEO "For Sprint shareholders, this is an opportunity to unlock and bring visibility to the value of our significant spectrum assets, technology and expertise, by leveraging the technology, applications and distribution strengths of our investors, who together command nearly a half- trillion dollars in market capitalization," said Dan Hesse, president and chief executive officer of Sprint. "We've made an excellent start developing XOHM WiMAX services. Contributing those advances to a strongly backed new company - in which we'll hold the largest interest - provides Sprint with additional financial flexibility and allows Sprint management to leverage and focus on our core business.? "Additionally, the agreements allowing the new company and our cable company investors to bundle and resell Sprint's third-generation wireless services strengthen the distribution of our current services while reducing the complexity and enhancing Sprint's cable relationships," Hesse added. Clearwire Chairman Speaks of Power of Mobile Internet Clearwire Chairman Craig O. McCaw, said, "The power of the mobile Internet, which offers speed and mobility, home and away, on any device or screen, will fundamentally transform the communications landscape in our country. We believe that the new Clearwire will operate one of the fastest and most capable broadband wireless networks ever conceived, giving us the opportunity to return the U.S. to a leadership position in the global wireless industry.

In-Flight Broadband to Return Starting in early 2009, airline passengers will be able to access in-flight high-speed Internet through Panasonic?s new ExConnect service. While specifics have not been released, Panasonic expects the initial service to launch on several airlines in targeted areas of the globe, then expanding to meet demand. In-Flight Internet Service on Hiatus Since 2006 Although in-flight broadband service was originally offered in 2004 on major European and Asian airlines, the service has not been available since 2006 when Boeing discontinued its Connexion Internet service citing rising costs and a lack of interest on the part of their commercial flight passengers. Panasonic?s Trio of In-Flight Broadband Services Utilizing Intelsat?s existing GlobalConnex satellite broadband system -- which is used by corporations and telecom operators -- Panasonic?s ExConnect service will offer Internet access speeds comparable to Wi-Fi hotspots on the ground. Panasonic is offering high-speed Internet as one component in a trio of new in-flight broadband services. These include ExTV, which will allow live television viewing through the aircraft?s entertainment system, and ExPhone, a cellular phone service made possible through a cellular base station located on the plane. Panasonic is at the forefront of the in-flight entertainment industry through its U.S. subsidiary, Panasonic Avionics whose entertainment systems are in service on more than 3,700 aircraft. Demand Growing for In-Flight, High-Speed Internet Pricing has not been finalized at this time but Panasonic expects that passengers will pay approximately $12 per hour or $22 per day for in-flight broadband service. And while details have not been made public, Panasonic says that airline passengers have already started to sign up for the service.

Time Warner to Sell Cable Division Time Warner, the second largest cable provider in the U.S., recently announced plans to spin off its cable services division in an effort to restructure the company as a whole. The restructuring move is seen by experts as a response to Wall Street demands to operate as a media content company to increase the value of its stock. In a company press release, Time Warner chief executive officer Jeff Bewkes said: ?Our results this quarter, particularly the underlying operating strength of our cable, networks, and filmed entertainment businesses, gave us the confidence to reaffirm our full-year business outlook. We?ve also made substantial progress on our key structural initiatives. We?ve decided that a complete structural separation of Time Warner Cable, under the right circumstances, is in the best interest of both companies? shareholders. We?re working hard on an agreement with Time Warner Cable, which we expect to finalize soon. At the same time, we?ll continue to pursue the rest of our aggressive agenda that we believe will deliver increasing value to our shareholders.? Time Warner First Quarter Profits Down from One Year Ago Time Warner?s first-quarter net profit fell 36 percent to $771 million, or 21 cents per share, from $1.2 billion, or 30 cents per share, a year earlier, when it booked a big gain from the sale of AOL's Internet access business in Germany and the unwinding of its cable partnership with Comcast Corp. Time Warner currently owns Time Warner Cable stock (the company rolled off part of its cable unit into Bright House Networks in 2003).

Charter Launches Faster High-Speed Internet in Wisconsin Charter Communications, the third largest publicly traded broadband communications company in the U.S., has announced its launch of a new high-speed Internet service capable of download speeds as fast as 16 Mbps in most of its service areas in Wisconsin. The new service, called Charter High-Speed Internet Max, will allow Charter customers to download a song in 2 ½ seconds, or download as many as 24 photographs in eight seconds. Charter is offering the same high speeds for Charter Business, the company?s Internet service exclusive to business customers. High-Speed Internet Offered on Premium Tier of Service According to a company press release, Charter?s High-Speed Internet Max is available to its Wisconsin customers on a premium tier of service. The cable operator also offers Charter High-Speed Internet with download speeds up to 5 Mbps, and Charter High-Speed Plus which features speeds as fast as 10 Mbps. Charter Investing in Enhanced Services Over the past year, Charter has invested more than $1 billion in capital to enhance its broadband offerings across the U.S. Says Ted Schremp, Charter?s senior vice president of product management and strategy, ?Speed and the reliability of that speed are top priorities of Internet users and for the second time, an independent research firm, comScore, Inc., ranked Charter?s high-speed Internet speeds fastest and most reliable in the communities we serve. Bundling Charter Services Offers Greater Value to Customers According to Schremp, Charter?s Wisconsin customers can take advantage of lower prices when they choose to bundle the company?s video and telephone services.

Blockbuster in Talks for Stake in Viacom Premium Cable Channel According to recent reports, Blockbuster has been in talks for several weeks to buy a stake in a new premium cable TV channel to be launched by Viacom in conjunction with Lions Gate Entertainment and Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. A deal would be based on Blockbuster obtaining digital rights to the channel's programming in exchange for an investment in the partnership. Viacom Announced Premium Channel Launch on April 20 Viacom and its two current partners announced plans on April 20 to launch a new premium television channel in September 2009 after talks with CBS Corp's Showtime to renew movie licensing deals broke down. The new channel is as yet unnamed, but will feature such movies as Iron Man, Cloverfield, the upcoming Star Trek, and Valkyrie, as well as older movies from the studios' portfolios and original programming. It?s expected that cable operators will need to charge as much as $5 per subscriber per month to turn a profit from the new channel. Blockbuster Also Pursuing Circuit City Blockbuster also recently announced that it has offered to buy electronics retailer Circuit City for a price of $6 per share, subject to due diligence. Blockbuster stated in a recent news release that it made the bid public because Circuit City shareholders should have the opportunity to participate in determining the destiny of the company. Blockbuster noted the combination of the two companies would result in an $18 billion global retail enterprise positioned to capitalize on the growing convergence of media content and electronic devices. The transaction would allow both companies to benefit from the revenue growth generated by their complementary products, while the resulting synergies would substantially improve consolidated financial performance, thereby increasing shareholder value.

Charter Communications Renews Outdoor Channel Deal Charter Communications has renewed its distribution agreement with the Outdoor Channel. The deal will allow the cable channel?s 30.8 million cable and satellite subscribers to access its programming. Tom Hornish, chief operating officer at Outdoor Channel, spoke about the deal saying, ?Charter's markets perfectly align with Outdoor Channel's target audience of outdoor enthusiasts. This is an excellent opportunity for both organizations to deliver high quality outdoor programming to an audience that truly appreciates the great outdoors." Outdoor Channel Popular Programming Outdoor Channel provides entertainment for its audience by creating primetime categories such as hunting, fishing, off-road motorsports, or Western lifestyle. Programming within the different categories air on different weeknights. The cable network is known for such shows as Realtree Outdoors, Dock Dogs, Jim Shockey's Hunting Adventures, and Scent Lok's Gettin' Close with Lee &Tiffany. The channel?s programs can be viewed on multiple platforms via Charter including high definition and video-on-demand. With the launch of the Outdoor Channel?s newly designed website, www.outdoorchannel.com, viewers can also watch the channel?s program online. Outdoor Channel is a wholly owned subsidiary of Outdoor Channel Holdings, Inc. Outdoor Channel Founded for Outdoorsmen When the Outdoor Channel was founded, its intent was to offer programming designed to educate and entertain sportsmen at every skill level. Founded by outdoorsmen for outdoorsmen, the channel promotes such traditional outdoor activities as fishing, hunting, and shooting sports. The channel?s programs target traditional sportsmen of all ages with a focus on activities that the entire family can enjoy in the great outdoors.

AT&T Expands U-Verse in Atlanta AT&T is expanding availability of AT&T U-verse television and high speed Internet in parts of Atlanta. The company?s U-verse service combines television, broadband, and wireless services delivered over AT&T's advanced Internet Protocol (IP) network. AT&T is the only national service provider which offers a 100 percent IP-based television (IPTV) service. The IP technology allows AT&T customers to take advantage of U-verse?s feature-rich services such as extensive HD channel offerings, more control over their services, and greater value. AT&T?s Commitment to Southeast Customers Sylvia Anderson, AT&T?s Georgia president, stated in a recent company news release, ?AT&T has made a commitment to help customers in the Southeast benefit from faster and wider delivery of innovative new services like AT&T U-verse. Our customers will reap the rewards when they experience AT&T U-verse TV. We look forward to expanding U-verse services and video choice to more customers in the Southeast." AT&T Offers Extensive U-Verse Television Features U-verse customers can enjoy numerous television features including extensive channels, the ability to set a DVR from any location and record up to four standard definition programs at once, photo browsing and slideshows, customizable weather, stock, sports and traffic information, Yahoo games, and built-in picture-to-picture channel surfing. U-Verse High Speed Internet Available at up to 10 Mbps According to AT&T, U-verse high speed Internet offers a variety of download speeds depending on which level of service a customer selects. The company?s Max service offers download speeds up to 10 Mbps; its Elite service has speeds up to 6 Mbps; the Pro service features speeds as fast as 3 Mbps, and Express service speeds up to 1.5 Mbps.